The Grand Canyon Antelopes (25-6) get together with the South Carolina Gamecocks (24-8) in the first round of the CIT tournament at Grand Canyon University Arena. The game starts at 10:00 pm ET on Monday, Mar. 14.
The Antelopes beat Utah Valley 86-79 the last time they played. Joshua Braun was the game’s high scorer with 30 points on 8-for-12 shooting. The Gamecocks, meanwhile, are coming off a tough 65-64 loss to Georgia in the 3 of the Southeastern tournament. Sindarius Thornwell had a game-high 23 points.
Notes
Ranked 24th, the South Carolina Gamecocks have one of the top defenses in the country, giving up just 96.6 points per 100 possessions. The Grand Canyon Antelopes rank 79th in offense, scoring 110.3 points in the same number of possessions.
The South Carolina Gamecocks average 71.5 possessions per game and 1.062 points per possession. The Grand Canyon Antelopes earn fewer possessions with 69.7, but they score more points with 1.103.
The Grand Canyon Antelopes average an effective field goal percentage of 51.0% this season. The South Carolina Gamecocks are 5-4 when opponents have an eFG% of 51.0% or greater.
On average, Grand Canyon attempts 16.0 three pointers and South Carolina attempts 17.0. Both teams have winning records when they have 20 or more three point attempts. The Grand Canyon Antelopes sit at 6-2 and the South Carolina Gamecocks are 8-2.
Grand Canyon ranks 80th in the nation with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.22. South Carolina is ranked lower at 246th with an A/TO of .95.
South Carolina, the 14th-ranked team in rebounding, registers an average of 41.0 rebounds per game. Grand Canyon ranks 71st with 38.3.
When it comes to offensive rebounds, South Carolina ranks seventh. Grand Canyon ranks 84th in defensive rebounds.
Though South Carolina is one of the best in the country in forcing turnovers with opponents averaging a TO% of 21.2% (ranked 17th), Grand Canyon has an outstanding 5-1 record SU when it has a TO% of 21.2% or greater.
