Men's Basketball . February 5, 2018

Gamecocks Face Arkansas On The Road Tuesday

Feb. 5, 2018

South Carolina at Arkansas

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina concludes a two-game conference road swing on Tuesday when it travels to Arkansas to face the Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas leads the all-time series between the two schools, 18-13.

STARTING FIVE

> South Carolina looks to snap its longest losing streak of the season on Tuesday when it travels to face Arkansas at Bud Walton Arena. The Gamecocks have lost three straight for the first time in 2017-18 campaign.
> Rookie forward Justin Minaya missed last Wednesday’s matchup vs. Mississippi State due to a right ankle sprain suffered the previous Monday at practice. He returned to the court at Texas A&M, scoring 16 points in 32 minutes off the bench to pace the Gamecocks. He is averaging 7.7 points per game in SEC contests this season.
> The Gamecocks are 4-4 in road games this season and 6-6 total in games played away from home. In road games, Carolina is averaging 66.0 points per game and the Gamecocks hold a +4.8 rebound margin over their opponents.
> In the last contest between the Gamecocks and Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena, Carolina posted its first win in Fayetteville in eight years behind a 22-point, 11-rebound performance by then-junior guard Sindarius Thornwell to lead Carolina to the 76-61 victory.
> Over the course of the last five games, junior forward Chris Silva‘s 14.7 points and 7.2 rebounds are both team highs. Minaya adds 12.3 points per outing and junior guard Hassani Gravett is averaging 3.4 assists per game during the stretch.

SCOUTING THE GAMECOCKS

> South Carolina is 13-10 on the season and 4-6 in SEC contests.
> The Gamecocks are currently in a tie for eighth place in the league standings with Arkansas, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss and Texas A&M at 4-6 in league games.
> Tuesday’s matchup at Arkansas marks two-straight on the road for the Gamecocks beginning with last Saturday’s matchup in College Station vs. the Aggies. Carolina returned to Columbia on Saturday evening, before traveling to Fayetteville on Monday for Tuesday’s contest vs. the Razorbacks. The two trips combined will be 2,920.54 air miles flown.
> Carolina is in search of its first win since the 77-72 upset win at No. 20 Florida on Jan. 24.
> Two average double-figures for Carolina entering Tuesday’s game at Arkansas. Silva’s 14.7 points per game are a team high, while Booker adds 11.3 per outing.
> Carolina holds a +5.1 rebound margin over its opponents this season, which ranks tied for fourth in the SEC with Kentucky.
> Nine different Gamecocks scored in Saturday’s matchup at Texas A&M, led by Minaya’s 16 points off the bench.
> Over the course of the last two games, Gravett has dished 11 assists against just three turnovers.
> Junior guard Kory Holden returned to the court at Texas A&M after missing the previous 11 games due to a hamstring injury suffered in the Dec. 19 game at Clemson. Holden dished two assists and collected three rebounds in nine minutes vs. the Aggies.
> Rookie forward Jason Cudd saw 14 minutes of action vs. A&M, scoring three points and collecting three rebounds.
> Graduate student guard Frank Booker connected on two 3-point baskets vs. the Aggies, marking his 16th game this season with multiple 3-pointers.

SCOUTING THE RAZORBACKS

> Arkansas is 15-8 on the year and 4-6 in SEC contests under seventh-year head coach Mike Anderson.
> The Razorbacks are 11-1 in home games this season and 3-1 in SEC home games.
> Arkansas suffered two losses on the road last week, first an 80-66 decision at A&M and most recently a 94-86 loss at LSU on Saturday.
> Senior guard Jaylen Barford paces three in double-figures for the Razorbacks with 18.6 points per game. He also is one of three on the team with at least 69 assists on the season.
> Senior guard Daryl Macon (17.0) and rookie forward Daniel Gafford (11.0) also average double figures.
> Macon’s 4.0 assists on the season are a team high and rank seventh in the SEC.
> Gafford’s 1.8 blocks per game are a team high and are eighth in the SEC.
> As a team in the SEC stats, Arkansas is second in scoring offense (83.2 ppg), first field in field goal percentage (48.7%) and fifth in assists with 15.1 per game.
> Individually in the stats, Barford is third in scoring (18.6 ppg), Macon is fifth (17.0 ppg), and Barford’s 44.8% from 3-point range is an SEC high.

SERIES INFORMATION

> Arkansas holds an 18-13 upperhand in the all-time series with the Gamecocks.
> The Razorbacks have won three out of the last five meetings, including an 83-76 win last season in Columbia.
> Carolina is just 4-10 in games played at Bud Walton Arena, but won their last matchup in Fayetteville, 76-61, on March 5, 2016.

UP NEXT

> South Carolina returns to Colonial Life Arena on Saturday to host Florida in a Noon matchup on CBS. The Gamecocks posted a 77-72 victory over the Gators in the first matchup between the two schools this season on Jan. 24 in Gainesville. Carter Blackburn (play-by-play) and Jim Spanarkel (analyst), who had the call for Carolina’s Elite Eight win over the Gators, will handle broadcast duties on Saturday

COACHES VS. CANCER 3-POINT CHALLENGE

> Frank Martin and the Gamecock men’s basketball team has joined forces with the NABC and the American Cancer Society for the Coaches vs. Cancer 3-Point Challenge, which will take place during the month of February. During the month, every 3-pointer the Gamecocks make will help raise money to beat cancer. The 3-Point Challenge is a nationwide program that unites basketball teams and their fans for a common cause — ending cancer. Fans can join the 3-Point Challenge and help beat cancer on the court by pledging a donation for every 3-pointer the Gamecocks make in February by visiting http://www.pledgeit.org/cvc18-south-carolina. During the month, Gamecock fans can keep up with the leaderboard at www.3pointchallenge.org