title image via FAMU Athletics
Courtesy of Florida A&M Athletics
COLUMBUS, S.C. –– The Rattlers travel to South Carolina to play the Gamecocks on Saturday afternoon for their final game in 2023.
When, Where, How to Watch:
When: Saturday, December 30, 2 p.m. Eastern
Where: Columbus, South Carolina
Watch: SEC Network+
Coaches in the game
Robert McCullum (Birmingham Southern, 1976)
Career Record: 147-239 (14th season)
Record at FAMU: 63-118 (7th season)
Lamont Paris
Career Record: 109-94 (7th season)
Record at South Carolina: 22-22 (2nd season)
Florida A&M Rattlers
The Rattlers enter the game after a 13-point loss at UCF, where they played them close for most of the game. Keith Lamarrecorded his second double-double in the game, while Roderick Coffee III scored a career-high 14 points.
The Rattlers’ strength coming into the game is their ability to score points off the bench, averaging 23.1 points off the bench (146th in the nation) and sharing the basketball, averaging 13.5 assists per game (178th in the nation). The Rattlers also ranked 115th in the nation with a free throw percentage of 72.6%.
Parker has been the Rattlers’ most active player, averaging 33:45 minutes per game (102nd in the nation). Keith Lamar is tied for the most double-doubles in the SWAC with two. Lamar (14.4 PPG), Love Bettis (11.3 PPG), and Shannon Grant (8.8 PPG) are the Rattlers’ top three scorers.
South Carolina Gamecocks
South Carolina enters the game on a four-game winning streak and a 70-43 win versus Elon.
The Gamecocks’ top strengths are taking care of the basketball, ranked 15th in the nation in turnovers per game (9.6), and their scoring defense, ranked 26th in the nation (63.2 PPGA).
The Gamecocks have four players averaging 10+ points per game, with Meechie Johnson being their leading scorer (18.3 PPG). B.J. Mack (14.4 PPG), Myles Stute (10.2 PPG), and Ta’lon Cooper (10.1 PPG) are the other three. Cooper also excels at running the offense and setting up his teammates with 54 total assists (92nd in the nation) and an assist/turnover ratio of 3.86 (9th in the nation).
