Men's Basketball . December 1, 2017

Gamecocks Open Three-Game Homestand Hosting UMass Saturday

Dec. 1, 2017

South Carolina vs UMass

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina opens up a three-game homestand on Saturday, hosting UMass at 2 p.m. ET, at Colonial Life Arena. The matchup is Carolina’s first at home since Nov. 13.

STARTING FIVE

> After playing six of its first seven games away from home, South Carolina returns to Colonial Life Arena to host three-straight non-conference matchups, beginning with Saturday’s game vs. UMass.
> Saturday’s game is Carolina’s first at home since Nov. 13.
> South Carolina suffered a 76-60 defeat to Temple at the Under Armour Reunion at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night. It marked Carolina’s first game at the venue since posting Sweet 16 and Elite Eight wins over Baylor and Florida, respectively, last March.
> Rookie guard David Beatty hit double-figures for the first time in his Gamecock career with 13 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field vs. Temple. Beatty is averaging 5.0 points per game this season.
> Dating back to the 2015-16 campaign, South Carolina is 32-6 in games played at Colonial Life Arena.

SCOUTING THE GAMECOCKS

> South Carolina looks to rebound on Saturday vs. UMass after suffering a 76-60 loss to Temple on Thursday at Madison Square Garden in the Under Armour Reunion.
> South Carolina struggled offensively in the matchup vs. the Owls, hitting just 37.9 percent from the field – its second-lowest mark of the season – and just 28.6 percent from beyond the arc.
> Rookie guard David Beatty hit 6-of-11 attempts from the floor for his first-career double-figure scoring game vs. Temple.
> Silva struggled offensively, hitting just 2-of-10 attempts from the floor, but he pulled down a team high nine rebounds and continues to lead the Gamecocks with 8.1 rebounds per game this season, which ranks fifth in the SEC (games through Nov. 30).
> Rookie guard Justin Minaya continues to have a solid start to his career in the Garnet and Black. He scored 11 points with two steals and seven rebounds vs. Temple. For the year, he is averaging 9.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.

SCOUTING UMASS

> UMass enters Saturday’s matchup with a 3-4 overall record, but the Minutemen have lost three-straight, including a 68-66 decision to Quinnipiac on Wednesday.
> UMass is led by head coach Matt McCall in his first season. He was previously the head coach at UT- Chattanooga, and was an assistant at his alma mater, Florida.
> Sophomore guard Luwane Pipkins leads the squad with 17.3 points per game this season, but he struggled vs. Quinnipiac, hitting just 2-of-13 attempts from the field.
> Junior center Rashaan Holloway is also in double-figures on the year, posting 10.7 per game. He had 14 with seven rebounds in UMass’ last outing.
> UMass has wins this season over UMass Lowell, Niagara and Western Carolina. Its other losses came to Harvard in OT, Minnesota and BYU.

THE SERIES

> South Carolina and UMass have met just once, a game that saw the Minutemen claim an 84-66 victory in the Hall of Fame Classic in Springfield on Dec. 29, 1992.
> Former UTEP and Auburn head coach Tony Barbee led UMass in that game, hitting 11-of-13 attempts from the floor, and posting a game high 31 points with seven rebounds.
> Jamie Watson led Carolina in the game with 13 points.

UP NEXT

> South Carolina continues its homestand when Wyoming visits Columbia for a 7 p.m. ET matchup on Wednesday, Dec. 6. Wyoming head coach Allen Edwards played for Gamecock head coach Frank Martin at Miami Senior High, and he is also the brother of Gamecock staff member Doug Edwards. The contest will be broadcast on SEC Network+.