Coker Up Next For Carolina Hoops

COLUMBIA, S.C. (USC SID) — South Carolina hosts Coker College on Sunday in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. The Gamecocks ride a current four-game win streak into the matchup, while the Cobras have lost their last three. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network+ with Andy Demetra and Hall of Famer Alex English on the call for the 3:30 p.m. tip time. Sunday’s game promotion is the ugly sweater game, Coach Martin and his staff will all wear ugly sweaters on the sideline. GAME INFORMATION Game Date: Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014 Game Time: 3:30 p.m. ET Arena: Colonial Life Arena (18,000) Broadcast: SEC Network+ Talent: Andy Demetra (pxp), Alex English (analyst) Radio: Gamecock Radio Network Talent: Derek Scott (pxp), Casey Manning (analyst) Sirius: 126; XM: 190 Series: First Meeting GAME STORYLINES – South Carolina is in its 107th season of varsity basketball in 2014-15. – The Gamecocks are led by third-year head coach Frank Martin. His associate head coach is Matt Figger, his assistant coaches are Perry Clark and Lamont Evans, and his director of operations is Andy Assaley. – In its first game in nearly two weeks, South Carolina extended its win streak to four games, and snapped a two-game losing streak to instate rival Clemson with a 68-45 victory over the Tigers at Colonial Life Arena on Dec. 19. In front of 11,992 boistrous fans, sophomore guard Duane Notice dropped 19 points, including a career-best five 3s, and senior point guard Ty Johnson dished a career high nine assists, to pace the Gamecocks to victory. – The Gamecocks’ win over Clemson was their biggest over the Tigers since the 1971 campaign, and the biggest point spread in the series since 1994. – South Carolina held Clemson to just 29.8 percent from the field, as the Tigers hit just 17-of-57 attempts. It marked the third-straight game that the Gamecocks have held their opponent under 30% from the field. – In the Dec. 20 NCAA RPI rankings, the Gamecocks rank 77. – South Carolina extended its then-season-long win streak to three games on Dec. 6 with a 26-point victory over visiting Oklahoma State, defeating the Cowboys 75-49. Sophomore guard Duane Notice posted 20 points to lead three Gamecocks in double figures (Thornwell and Johnson with 13 apiece), hitting the 20-point plateau in back-to-back games for the first time in his career. Notice hit 3-of-6 from the 3-point line, while also collecting four rebounds. – Junior forward Mindaugas Kacinas led the Gamecocks on the glass with 12 rebounds vs. Oklahoma State, marking his third double-figure rebounding game of the season and just two shy of matching his career high. Kacinas leads the Gamecocks with 7.0 rebounds per contest, which ranks tied for fifth in the SEC. His 3.5 offensive boards per game rank third in the league and 34th nationally. SCOUTING COKER Led by head coach Dan Schmotzer in his 28th season at the helm, the Coker Cobras enter Sunday’s game with a 3-5 overall record, including a 2-3 mark in SAC play. The Cobras last played on Dec. 13, suffering a 76-73 loss to Mars Hill. Four different Coker players average double-figures led by Errick Bethel with 18.3 per game. Jordan Scott adds 17.5 per game, Larry Felder provides 12.8 and Donte Samuels adds 12 points per game. Bethel currently ranks third in the SAC in scoring. Coker has 10 newcomers to its squad this season after losing seven letterwinners from last year’s 15-13 squad, including four starters. COKER SERIES Sunday’s matchup vs. Coker marks the first-ever between the two schools.