Vanderbilt @ South Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 16, 2019 ) South Carolina 74, Vanderbilt 71

Vanderbilt hopes to snap a six-game losing streak and earn its first SEC victory of the season when it visits South Carolina on Saturday. The Commodores are coming off two straight home losses, including a 77-62 setback against Alabama on Wednesday, while the Gamecocks are also hoping to bounce back from a loss at Auburn the same night.

Coach Jerry Stackhouse is trying to piece together his lineup after a couple of injury losses, including leading scorer Aaron Nesmith, who was averaging an SEC-best 23 points when he suffered a foot injury four games ago that could keep him out the rest of the season. In Nesmith's absence, junior guard Saben Lee has stepped into the lead offensive role, ranking in the top 10 in the SEC in both scoring (15.9 points) and assists (4.7). The Gamecocks have been a work in progress, as coach Frank Martin has two freshmen and two sophomores among his starting five this season. Freshman Jermaine Couisnard has been the top scorer for South Carolina in conference play, averaging 18.5 points.

TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: SEC Network

ABOUT VANDERBILT (8-10, 0-5 SEC): The Commodores could use a lot of things, but a win would certainly solve a lot for Stackhouse's squad. To the team's credit, it hasn't given up, forcing 25 Alabama turnovers in its loss to the Crimson Tide on Wednesday and trailing by just four early in the second half before the game was blown open by a 14-0 Alabama run. A lack of depth is certainly a problem for the Commodores, who have shown a penchant for getting worn out late in games, but the team's spirits could certainly be raised with a victory.

ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA (10-8, 2-3): The Gamecocks are hoping to get a little deeper themselves with the possible returns of sophomore swingman Keyshawn Bryant and freshman guard Trae Hannibal. Bryant suffered a head injury in a game against Texas A&M last weekend but has been practicing some this week according to Martin. Hannibal suffered an ankle injury in practice prior to the game against the Aggies, missing that game as well as the loss to Auburn, though he's been cleared to return if he can handle the pain of the ankle.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Vanderbilt G Scotty Pippen Jr. is ninth in the SEC in assists per game (4.1) and fourth in free throws made (73).

2. South Carolina leads the SEC in assists, averaging 14.2 per game in conference play.

3. The Commodores are 13th in the SEC in rebounding, grabbing 33.3 per game, just 0.1 better than last-place Arkansas.

PREDICTION: South Carolina 72, Vanderbilt 64