COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina State men's basketball team will face intrastate rival South Carolina in the Brooklyn Hoops Holiday Invitational Friday (Nov. 18) at the Colonial Life Arena (18,000).This is the 21^st meeting all-time between the two schools and the first since the 2013-14 campaign. Tip-off is 6:30 p.m.
 
The Bulldogs (1-1) are coming off an impressive 93-76 victory over St. Andrews on last Monday (Nov. 11) at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.  Four SC State players scored double-figures with James "JJ" Richardson leading the way with a team-high 20 points. Senior guard Greg Mortimer tossed in 19 points, seven rebounds, and five assist while Eric "EJ" Eaves chipped in 18.  Junior forward Tashombe Riley and guard Edward Stephens both finished with 10 each in the victory.
 
Meanwhile, the Gamecocks (3-0) claimed a hard-fought 70-69 overtime victory over Monmouth on Tuesday (Nov. 12). Sophomore guard PJ Dozier hit the buzzer beater to lift South Carolina to its third-straight win. Senior guard Sindarius Thornwell led USC with 23-points, nine rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals.
 
A LOOK BACK AT THE BULLDOGS
 The Bulldogs posted a 19-14 overall record last season and finished in a tie for second place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference standings with a 12-4 mark. 
- Head coach Murray Garvin was named the MEAC Coach of the Year and top returning scorer Eric Eaves earned All-MEAC Second-Team honors last season after posting 17.3 points per game. 
- SC State advanced to the postseason last spring, participating in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament. 
 
A LOOK BACK AT THE GAMECOCKS
- South Carolina returns two starters and eight letter winners from last season's squad that posted a 25-9 overall record. USC welcomed 10 newcomers to the squad this season
- Those returning starters feature the only backcourt in the SEC with two 1,000-point scorers, in senior guards Sindarius Thornwell and Duane Notice. The duo accounted for 24.2 points and 6.1 assists per game last season.
- Thornwell was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team last March, while Notice was named the league's Sixth Man of the Year.

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 UP NEXT
South Carolina State resume play in the Brooklyn Hoops Holiday Invitational when travel to take on the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome Tuesday, Nov. 22. Tip-off is 7 p.m. (EST)