USC Hoops Heads To Arkansas

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (USC SID) — South Carolina travels to Arkansas on Tuesday in the first of two road matchups this week. The Gamecocks and Razorbacks met twice last season, with Arkansas posting a 71-64 victory on its homecourt in mid-February, and Carolina earning a 71-69 win over the Razorbacks in the second round of the 2014 SEC Tournament. Tuesday’s game will be broadcast on the SEC Network with Dave Neal (pxp) and Will Perdue (analyst) on the call. GAME INFORMATION Game Date: Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015 Game Time: 9 p.m. ET Arena: Bud Walton Arena (19,200) Broadcast: SEC Network/WatchESPN Talent: Dave Neal (pxp), Will Perdue (analyst) Radio: Gamecock Radio Network Talent: Andy Demetra (pxp), Casey Manning (analyst) Sirius: N/A; XM: N/A Series: Arkansas leads 15-12 Last Meeting: 71-69 Carolina win on March 13, 2014, in Atlanta, Ga. (SEC Tournament) 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. – South Carolina snapped a five-game losing streak on Saturday with a 67-50 victory over visiting Georgia at Colonial Life Arena. Four Gamecocks scored in double-figures in that contest, led by 12 from junior forward Laimonas Chatkevicius. Sophomore guards Sindarius Thornwell (10) and Duane Notice (11), and senior guard Tyrone Johnson (10) also scored in double figures. Junior forward Michael Carrera led the Gamecocks for the fourth straight game on the glass, pulling down a game high nine rebounds. – The Gamecocks held Georgia to just 22.0 percent (11-50) from the field, including just a 4-of-25 (16.0%) mark in the second half. Both figures set new Gamecock records for lowest opponent field goal percentage in a single half and for a game in the SEC regular season. It is also the lowest field goal percentage by a Gamecock opponent since the addition of the 3-point basket in college basketball. – The win vs. Georgia snapped a five-game losing streak to the Bulldogs. It was Carolina’s first win over UGA since Feb. 2012. – Sophomore forward Demetrius Henry and sophomore guard Justin McKie did not play at LSU or vs. Georgia due to concussions. – The Gamecocks are 3-9 all time in games played in Fayetteville. They have lost three-straight road meetings in the series, with the last win at Bud Walton Arena in a 70-66 victory on Jan. 16, 2008. – In last season’s victory vs. Arkansas in the SEC Tournament, then-freshman guard Sindarius Thornwell paced the Gamecocks with 17 points, and then-sophomore forward Laimonas Chatkevicius set a then-career high with 17 points off the bench. Chatkevicius was 8-of-10 from the free throw line in that contest. – The Gamecocks are in their 24th season of competition in the Southeastern Conference in 2015. Carolina owns a 140-240 (.368) all-time record in SEC play. – Frank Martin owns a 61-65 (.484) all-time record in conference games. – South Carolina has victories this season over three teams in the top 40 of the RPI (Feb. 1) in Iowa State (16), Georgia (24) and Oklahoma State (33). – South Carolina was in a back-and-forth battle on the road at LSU on Jan. 28, but the home team was able to secure a 64-58 victory in Baton Rouge, using key free throws from Jordan Mickey and Tim Quarterman in the final 19 seconds to seal the win. The Gamecocks struggled offensively, hitting just 34.4 percent (21-61) from the field, however, Carolina hit seven 3s in the contest. Mickey and Jarell Martin blocked six shots each for the Tigers. – Junior forward Michael Carrera led the Gamecocks with 10 rebounds at LSU, marking his first double-figure rebounding game of the season.