South Carolina’s fourth player hit the road to play against the 21st Mississippi State Bulldogs on Thursday at 7 pm ET on ESPN. The Bulldogs have lost three of their last five, suffering defeats in the last two games. The Gamecocks have suffered just one loss all season and are coming out of a narrow road win over LSU on Sunday.
Gamecocks feature players who can easily score the ball. Zia Cooke reached double digits in the score in 10 of the 13 games this season and is the team’s highest scorer so far. Aliyah Boston averages 14.8 points and 11.3 rebounds and has a streak of seven games with over 10 rebounds. Destanni Henderson leads the team with three games of 20 points, averaging 5.9 assists and 5.6 rebounds to go with 12.5 points. Victaria Saxton assumed the starting role with 10.1 points and 6.3 rebounds.
Bulldogs are led by a remarkable pair of post players. Rickea Jackson is scoring 15.8 points and is shooting 34 percent beyond the arc. Jessika Carter has an average of 15.6 points and 9.2 rebounds. The state of Mississippi also has some external threats that will attract the attention of South Carolina’s defense: Myah Taylor (38%), Aliyah Matharu (36%) and Sidney Cooks (35%).
Here’s what to expect from the match and how to watch it:
Game information
No. 4 South Carolina Gamecocks (12-1, 7-0 SEC) vs. No. 21 Mississippi State Bulldogs (8-4, 3-3 SEC)
When: Thursday, January 28 at 7 pm Eastern Time
Where: Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville, MS
How to watch / listen: ESPN / Radio: Mississippi State Radio or Gamecock All Access
What to watch: Bulldogs and Gamecocks are not big 3-point shooting teams, but Bulldogs take 19 triples per game, making up about seven of them compared to about five brands for Gamecocks. Hoop recovery and defense favor South Carolina, so fans of the state of Mississippi hope their pitchers will be able to create space for their powders.