Men's Basketball . November 18, 2017

Gamecocks Meet Western Michigan In Puerto Rico Tip-Off Finale Sunday

Nov. 18, 2017

South Carolina vs Western Michigan

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina will face Western Michigan for the second time this week on Sunday at 2 p.m., in its final game of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off at Myrtle Beach. The Gamecocks posted a 78-60 victory over the Broncos in Columbia last Monday.

STARTING FIVE

> South Carolina head coach Frank Martin looks for win number 100 as head coach at South Carolina on Sunday. Since the start of the 2015-16 campaign, Martin has led his Gamecocks to 54 wins.
> Juinor guard Hassani Gravett dished a career high nine assists on Friday vs. UTEP, and has dished 14 combined in two games at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off at Myrtle Beach, as he had a team high five on Thursday vs. Illinois State.
> Junior guard Kory Holden tallied 11 points vs. the Miners, his first double-figure scoring game of the season. In two seasons at Delaware, Holden posted 43 double-figure scoring games.
> Rookie forward Felipe Haase has been solid on both ends of the court early this season. He is posting 7.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
> After struggling offensively vs. Illinois State last Thursday, the Gamecocks got off to a blistering start on Friday vs. UTEP, hitting 17-of-31 attempts in the first half, 54.8 percent.

SCOUTING THE GAMECOCKS

> South Carolina rebounded on Friday with a win over UTEP at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. Senior forward Chris Silva led four in double figures with 15, just one shy of matching his career high.
> Freshman forward Justin Minaya hit 3-of-5 attempts from 3-point range in the contest vs. the Miners, with two of those makes in the first half.
> Sophomore forward Maik Kotsar continues to be solid for the Gamecocks. He is averaging 11.0 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, and his 50.0% (18-36) from the field is a team high. He scored 14 with two steals in the win vs. UTEP.
> In the SEC statistics (games through Nov. 17), South Carolina ranks second in scoring defense (59.2), third in field goal percentage defense (37.1%) and fourth in rebound margin (+9.5).
> Individually in the SEC stats, Chris Silva in ninth in rebounds per game (8.3), Hassani Gravett is eighth in assists per game (4.8) and Maik Kotsar is sixth with 1.8 steals per outing.

SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN

> WMU is led by long-time head coach Steve Hawkins in his 15th season. He is the longest tenured coach in the MAC.
> The Broncos were picked to win the MAC Tournament this season and repeat as MAC West champs.
> WMU won its final eight games of the regular season last spring to claim their ninth MAC West title.
> Western returns 10 letterwinners from last season, including four starters.
> WMU is led by senior guard Thomas Wilder, who was a Preseason All-MAC West honoree.
> Western suffered a 104-98 loss to Iowa State in its opening game at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off on Thursday, before posting an 86-67 win over Appalachian State to advance to Sunday’s matchup vs. the Gamecocks.
> Wilder led the Broncos with 31 points in the win over Appalachian State, including a 12-of-14 mark at the free throw line.