vs. 
South Carolina Gamecocks (8-3, 0-0 SEC) at Boston College Eagles (8-4, 1-0 ACC)
Time: 9:00 EST
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009
Place: Silvio O. Conte Forum, Chestnut Hill, Ma.
TV: ESPNU
The Line: Boston College -4.5
Last Time Out: Boston College defeated Massachusetts 79-67 to move to 8-4 on the season.
Series: South Carolina leads the all-time series 1-0.
First Meeting: South Carolina 86, Boston College 64 (Dec. 28, 1971)
South Carolina's 2008-2009 Record: 21-10, 10-6 SEC (tied 1st place)
Probable Starters:
- G - Brandis Raley-Ross (Sr.) - 6'2", 193 lbs., Gastonia, N.C. - 11.2 PPG, 3.2 RPG
- G - Devan Downey (Sr.) - 5'9", 175 lbs., Chester, S.C. - 17.5 PPG, 2.9 RPG
- F - Lakeem Jackson (Fr.) - 6'5", 215 lbs., Charlotte, N.C. - 6.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG
- F - Sam Muldrow (Jr.) - 6'9", 216 lbs., Florence, S.C. - 9.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG
- F - Austin Steed (Jr.) - 6'8", 215 lbs., Hephzibah, Ga. - 3.4 PPG, 3.6 RPG
After taking a week off for the holidays, the Eagles men's hoops team returns to action tonight as they host the South Carolina Gamecocks. BC is coming off a 79-67 win in the Commonwealth Classic. Corey Raji and Joe Trapani scored 18 points to lead the Eagles, while Rakim Sanders registered 15 points, 8 assists in the win. Through 12 games, Corey Raji leads all Eagles in scoring (15.7 points per game) and rebounding (8.3 rebounds per game).
The Gamecocks come into this game with a record of 8-3. USC last played 9 days ago, a 81-57 win over Furman. South Carolina has already lost two starters to injury this season and are led by senior guard Devan Downey (17.5 points per game). Two of USC's losses have come to ACC programs - a 85-70 loss at home to Miami and a 72-61 loss to in-state archrival Clemson at Littlejohn.
This is the Eagles' last chance at a quality non-conference win before ACC play resumes with a road trip to Clemson. BC hosts Maine (Jan. 2) and NJIT (Jan. 5) before starting a tough ACC road stretch that also includes trips to Duke, Miami and Virginia Tech.
This game is on ESPNU and will be the last televised game before the Eagles resume ACC play at Clemson. Leave your pre-, in- or post-game thoughts below.
Go Eagles!