Gamecocks Host North Carolina A&T On Tuesday Evening

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina returns from the holiday break to host North Carolina A&T on Tuesday in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. South Carolina rides a five-game win streak into the matchup, having most recently posted a 26-point win over Coker College on Dec. 21. Tuesday’s contest will be broadcast on SEC Network+ with Andy Demetra and Hall of Famer Alex English on the call. Full Release: http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/122914aab.html GAME INFORMATION Game Date: Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014 Game Time: 7 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: N/A; XM: N/A 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. – The Gamecocks have won five straight after posting a 26-point win versus visiting Coker College on Dec. 21 with a final score of 78-52. Four Gamecocks scored in double-figures, led by sophomore guard Duane Notice’s team-best 19 points. Junior forward Michael Carrera pulled down a team high eight rebounds in his second contest back after missing three games due to a concussion. – In the Dec. 29 NCAA RPI rankings, the Gamecocks rank 95. – In its first game in nearly two weeks due to the break for final exams, 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 held their opponent under 30% from the field. – 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 6.8 rebounds per contest, which ranks seventh in the SEC. His 3.2 offensive boards per game rank fourth in the league and 49th nationally. SCOUTING NC A&T North Carolina A&T is 2-12 on the season after most recently snapping a 12-game losing skid with a 58-54 victory over NC Wesleyan on Sunday. The game vs. NC Wesleyan was A&T’s first at home since Nov. 17. Junior forward Bruce Beckford leads the team with 15.3 points per game, and also collects a team best 7.9 rebounds per outing. Rookie point guard Austin Williams dishes 3.7 assists per game to lead the squad. The duo were the stars in the victory over NC Wesleyan, with Beckford posting a game best 18 points, and Williams dishing three assists and collecting four steals. North Carolina A&T is led by head coach Cy Alexander in his third season. Alexander was a long time coach at SC State and also at Tennessee State before his time with the Aggies. NORTH CAROLINA A&T SERIES Tuesday’s matchup vs. NC A&T marks the first-ever between the two schools.