South Carolina @ Texas A&M preview
Reed Arena
Last Meeting ( Feb 16, 2019 ) Texas A&M 77, South Carolina 84
South Carolina’s hot start to SEC play has long since faded, and now it will try to stop a three-game slide when it visits Texas A&M on Tuesday. Despite the recent slump, the Gamecocks are in a five-way tie for fourth place and still have a shot at a top-four finish and a double-bye in the conference tournament.
The Gamecocks lost 78-63 at Missouri on Saturday to continue their woes away from home as they’ve lost four straight and six of their last seven on the road. The Aggies have been trending in the other direction, winning five of their last seven contests following a 1-8 start in conference play. Texas A&M has captured three straight at home, including Saturday's 64-57 victory over Vanderbilt. South Carolina defeated the Aggies 84-77 at home on Feb. 16 but have recorded only one win in four trips to Texas A&M.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, SEC Network
ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA (14-15, 9-7 SEC): The Gamecocks will be without freshman guard A.J. Lawson (13.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, three assists) for the second straight game due to an ankle injury suffered in last Tuesday’s loss to Alabama. Hassani Gravett (11.4 points) took Lawson’s spot in the starting lineup against Missouri and matched his career high with 20 points. South Carolina will need Gravett to knock down some outside shots to create space inside for Chris Silva (14.2 points, 7.1 rebounds).
ABOUT TEXAS A&M (13-15, 6-10): The Aggies are playing their second game without TJ Starks (12.3 points), who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury last week at LSU. Without Starks, the Aggies pounded the ball inside to Savion Flagg (12.8 points, 7.7 rebounds), who recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 22 points and 12 rebounds against Vanderbilt, and Christian Mekowulu (8.3, six), who posted his third double-double with 19 points and 12 boards. Wendell Mitchell (team-leading 13.4 points) also continued his hot play as he has scored in double figures in eight of his last nine games and leads the Aggies with 15.2 points per game in SEC play.
TIP-INS
1. South Carolina matched the program record with 16 3-pointers in the Feb. 16 meeting with the Aggies.
2. Texas A&M F Josh Nebo leads the SEC and ranks eighth in the nation with 2.5 blocks per game.
3. The Gamecocks are 11-3 when outrebounding their opponent, including a 7-0 record in conference play.
PREDICTION: Texas A&M 73, South Carolina 70