Vanderbilt Closes Out Home Schedule With USC

Vanderbilt Closes Out Home Schedule With USC

2/28/2005

NASHVILLE – Vanderbilt meets South Carolina in the Commodores’ home finale Wednesday at 7 p.m. The contest will not be televised.

Entering the final week of the regular season, Vanderbilt (17-11, 7-7 Southeastern Conference) continues to make a push for postseason consideration. Winners of six of their last nine games, the Commodores have pulled even in the SEC standings. A win Wednesday moves Vanderbilt over the .500 mark in the league for the first time since Jan. 12 and secures an SEC Eastern Division No. 3 seed in the upcoming league tournament March 10-13 in Atlanta, Ga.

Wednesday’s contest also marks the last home game for Commodore seniors Jason Holwerda, Dawid Przybyszewski and Corey Smith. The versatile Holwerda will finish his career ranked on VU’s top 10 lists for assists and steals. The 7-2 Przybyszewski has hit a three-pointer in 70 of 122 career games. Smith is enjoying his best season as a Commodore (12.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg), having led the team in scoring 10 times, rebounding nine times and assists on eight occasions.

The South Carolina contest also marks the 800th men’s basketball game played all-time at Memorial Gymnasium. It’s the most historic arena still in use in the SEC. The facility was dedicated in 1952 as a concert hall and gymnasium. The Commodores
are 624-175 (.781) all-time in the building.

A win over South Carolina Wednesday would set the Memorial Gymnasium record for most home wins in a season at 16.

Vanderbilt is coming off a 65-37 win over Georgia on Saturday. Smith led the Commodores with 15 points while Shan Foster (10) and Dawid Przybyszewski (10) also reached double figures. VU held the Bulldogs to 29.3 percent shooting from the field.

The Gamecocks (14-11, 6-8 SEC) are coming off a 66-65 home setback to Florida on Saturday. David Lee’s putback in the closing seconds sealed the win for the Gators. Carlos Powell led South Carolina with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Tre Kelley added 17 points.

South Carolina has won four in a row in the series, including a 68-63 decision in Columbia on Jan. 26. The Gamecocks lead the all-time series 20-15.