South Carolina (12-18, 3-14 SEC) is set to wrap up its regular season with a matchup against Ole Miss (12-18, 4-13) on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network, featuring Mike Morgan as the play-by-play announcer and former Texas head coach Rodney Terry as the analyst.
The Gamecocks have a strong record in Oxford, having won their last three games there, including a notable 77-74 overtime victory on February 15, 2022. As South Carolina looks to regain momentum heading into the SEC Tournament, they are aiming to break a three-game losing streak after recently falling to No. 23/25 Tennessee during Senior Night. Leading the scoring for South Carolina in that game was Meechie Johnson, who recorded 20 points, alongside Nordin Kapic, who equaled his season-high with 13 points. Mike Sharavjamts also reached a milestone, surpassing 1,000 career points, joining teammates Kobe Knox and Myles Stute in achieving this benchmark this season.
Johnson has had an impressive season, boasting a career-high 12 games with 20 or more points, including 10 games in SEC competition, tying him for third-most in the league alongside Auburn’s Keyshawn Hall. His scoring prowess has been pivotal for Carolina, as he averages 19.8 points, 4.8 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 16 SEC contests. His consistency has placed him among the top players in the SEC for scoring and assists, a rare feat shared by only a few players in the conference’s history.
In terms of team performance, the Gamecocks are excelling at the free throw line, currently leading the SEC and ranking eighth nationally with an impressive 78.6% shooting percentage. This puts them on track to break a 55-year-old program record for free throw percentage set during the 1970-71 season. Notable free throw percentages among players include Mike Sharavjamts, who leads the team with an 88.2% success rate.
Meanwhile, Ole Miss aims to continue building on recent momentum after ending a 10-game losing streak with a victory over Auburn. Key players for the Rebels include Kansas transfer AJ Storr, who leads the scoring with an average of 15.1 points per game, and a strong bench that ranks third in the SEC for bench points per game.
As both teams prepare to clash, South Carolina will be keen to improve its standings and establish a successful foundation leading into the SEC Tournament in Nashville next week. The Gamecocks are set to compete for seed placements, which will be determined by the outcomes of Saturday’s games.
With the potential for a thrilling matchup, fans will be eager to see if South Carolina can secure a victory and gain momentum as they prepare for tournament play.