South Carolina’s five-game homestand rolls on Sunday, and the next visitor to Colonial Life Arena is a brand-new one for the Gamecocks: Southeast Missouri State.
Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. ET in Columbia, with the matchup marking the first meeting between the programs. The game will air on SEC Network+ with Dave Weinstein, John Williams and Perry Clark on the call, while 107.5 The Game will carry the radio broadcast with Tim Bickford and Casey Manning.
The Gamecocks come in after opening the 2026-27 season with an 81-55 win over Stetson on Tuesday, a game they controlled in nearly every area. South Carolina won the rebounding battle 35-21, turned that edge into a 24-11 advantage in second-chance points and outscored the Hatters 44-26 in the paint.
Juan Fernández led the way with 20 points, going 9-of-13 from the floor and adding seven rebounds in just 18 minutes. South Carolina also got a balanced scoring night, with five players finishing in double figures.
Camden Heide scored 13, Jakub Nečas and Davion Hannah each had 11, and Aleksas Bieliauskas added 10 points and four rebounds. Hannah’s nine rebounds were a career high, leaving him one board short of his first double-double.
SEMO arrives with momentum of its own after opening 2-0, beating Lipscomb 86-79 and Webster 90-65. The Redhawks have five players averaging double figures through those first two games, paced by Marqueas Bell at 13.0 points per game. Bell is also second on the team in rebounding at 7.5 per game, behind Clayton Jewell’s 8.5 boards and 6.0 points.
Fontaine Williams Jr. and Drew Cooper have also been central to SEMO’s early offense, combining for 18 of the team’s 41 three-point attempts. They’ve hit seven of those shots and are averaging 11.5 and 11.0 points, respectively. As a team, the Redhawks are outrebounding opponents 40.5-33.0 per game and rank 59th in the NCAA in blocks per game at 6.5.
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South Carolina, meanwhile, has earned the chance to enjoy the moment. The Gamecocks have won three straight and pushed themselves up to No. 21 in the College Football Playoff rankings, giving this home date a little more weight than the usual late-season crowd scene. With momentum on their side and the building likely to be lively, they have a chance to keep turning home field into something more than just a backdrop. [Read more 🡒]
LaNorris Sellers Injury Suddenly Puts South Carolina's Offense On Edge
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He was back out for halftime warmups, leaving open the possibility of returning for the second half if he could go. Shane Beamer acknowledged the concern around Sellers, but the Gamecocks also had to be ready for the next-man-up scenario, with confidence in backup Cutter Woods if the injury kept Sellers sidelined. [Read more 🡒]