Texas A&M @ South Carolina preview
Colonial Life Arena
Last Meeting ( Feb 3, 2018 ) South Carolina 60, Texas A&M 83
South Carolina looks to get back on track and boost its chances of a top-four finish in the SEC when it hosts Texas A&M on Saturday. The Aggies are trying for their third consecutive win following a 1-8 start to conference play.
The Gamecocks are tied for fourth in the SEC standings after suffering a loss at top-ranked Tennessee on Wednesday. Saturday's meeting is the first of two between the teams, who will clash at Texas A&M on March 5. That might bode well for the Gamecocks, as the Aggies are near the bottom of the conference standings but have won their last two games. Texas A&M blew out visiting Georgia 73-56 on Tuesday, committing only seven turnovers in the romp.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, SEC Network
ABOUT TEXAS A&M (10-13, 3-8 SEC): The Aggies have buckled down on defense in their back-to-back wins, holding both Missouri and Georgia under 60 points. TJ Starks (12.9 points) and Wendell Mitchell (12.5) lead a trio of double-digit scorers that also includes Savion Flagg (11.7, 7.6 rebounds). Christian Mekowulu (8.2 points, 5.9 rebounds) recorded 15 points and 15 rebounds in the win over Georgia for his second consecutive double-double.
ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA (12-12, 7-4): The Gamecocks have one of the best big men in the SEC in Chris Silva (13.9 points, 7.3 rebounds), who registered 17 points and a career-high 15 rebounds against Tennessee for his seventh double-double of the season. But they’ve grown more and more reliant on the 3-pointer, with freshman A.J. Lawson (13.5 points) and senior Hassani Gravett (10.8) doing much of their damage from beyond the arc. Tre Campbell (6.8 points) has emerged as another scoring option lately and put up a team-high 19 points on 5-of-5 shooting from 3-point range against the Volunteers.
TIP-INS
1. South Carolina made a season-high 14 3-pointers against Tennessee and is 40-for-71 from beyond the arc over its last four games.
2. Mitchell is averaging a team-high 14.4 points in SEC play.
3. Texas A&M F Josh Nebo (8.7 points, six rebounds) has missed the last two games with a knee injury and is questionable for Saturday.
PREDICTION: South Carolina 73, Texas A&M 69