Men's Basketball . November 3, 2017

Gamecocks And Hokies Meet In Hoops 4 Hurricane Relief Exhibition Sunday

Nov. 3, 2017

South Carolina vs Virginia Tech

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina and Virginia Tech will meet in the “Hoops 4 Hurricane Relief” exhibition contest on Sunday at 2 PM at Colonial Life Arena. The exhibition event will raise funds for those impacted by the recent storms, as net proceeds from the game will support hurricane relief efforts in Texas, South Florida and Puerto Rico. Both coaching staffs and members of each program have deep ties to the affected areas. Gamecock head coach Frank Martin is a native of South Florida and VT head coach Buzz Williams is a native Texan. Hokie associate head coach Steve Roccaforte is a Beaumont, Texas, native that had family and close friends directly impacted by the devastation, and Gamecock assistant Chuck Martin had family members in Puerto Rico impacted as well.

PARKING INFORMATION

Parking for Sunday’s exhibition vs. Virginia Tech will be free in Lots A and B on a first come basis. Additional private and city lot parking is available for $10, and shuttles from the Pendleton and Park Street garages will begin two hours prior to tip-off, and will be $3 roundtrip.

GAMECOCKS TO RECEIVE EAST REGIONAL CHAMPION RINGS PRE-GAME

Returning Gamecock players and staff from last year’s historic Final Four squad will receive their East Regional Champion rings prior to tip-off vs. the Hokies on Sunday. Fans should arrive early for the on-court presentation.

SCOUTING THE GAMECOCKS

The Gamecocks posted an 85-44 win over Erskine on Oct. 30, at Colonial Life Arena in the first exhibition of the season on Monday. Four scored in double-figures for Carolina in the matchup versus the Flying Fleet, led by Chris Silva‘s 15 points, while rookie forward Justin Minaya added 13 in the start. Freshman forward Felipe Haase pulled down a team high 12 rebounds and matched returning guard Hassani Gravett for a squad best three assists. South Carolina scored 36 points in the paint in the matchup, and held the Fleet to just 29.4 percent (15-51) from the field.

SCOUTING THE HOKIES

Junior guard Justin Robinson returns for the Hokies this season after pacing the squad with 4.8 assists per game last season, a mark that ranked fifth in the final ACC rankings. Junior Chris Clarke returns as well, he averaged 11.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last season for the Hokies before suffering a knee injury. Senior guard Justin Bibbs, who started all 33 games and provided 9.2 points per outing, returns, along with Ahmed Hill (11.4 points per game). The Hokies, who advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season for the first time since 2007, are led by head coach Buzz Williams in his fourth season.

SEASON OPENER NEXT FRIDAY AT WOFFORD

South Carolina officially begins the 2017-18 campaign next Friday, Nov. 10, when it travels to face Wofford in Spartanburg. The Terriers were picked to finish fifth (media) in the Preaseason Southern Conference Poll, and junior forward Cameron Jackson and junior guard Fletcher Magee were selected to the Preseason All-SoCon Team. Wofford is led by head coach Mike Young in his 16th season.