Aug. 16, 2010

EAST LANSING, Mich. - For the second straight season, Michigan State men's basketball will be a part of ESPN's College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon. A year after defeating Gonzaga in the Breslin Center, MSU will host South Carolina on Nov. 16 at 10 p.m. in East Lansing. The marathon is highlighted by 12 live college basketball games in 24 consecutive hours on ESPN. Overall, ESPN's celebration of the opening of the college basketball season will include 20 live games across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU.

South Carolina returns three starters from a squad that finished 15-16 last season, including a victory over then No. 1 Kentucky. The Gamecocks are coached by third-year head coach Darrin Horn, who served with current Spartan assistant Dwayne Stephens as an assistant coach for Tom Crean at Marquette from 1999-2003.

MSU leads the all-time series with South Carolina, 3-2. The last meeting came on Nov. 26, 1999, when the Spartans defeated the Gamecocks, 59-56, in the Puerto Rico Shootout.