![\"NCAA](\"https:\/\/images.deadspin.com\/tr:w-900\/27621814.jpg\")
Nov 18, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Radford Highlanders guard Dennis Parker (11) drives past South Carolina Gamecocks forward Myles Stute (10) in the second half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images <\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\nSouth Carolina knows its postseason hopes will ultimately come down to how the team performs in Southeastern Conference play, which begins Saturday with a home showdown against No. 11 Vanderbilt.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n But before the Gamecocks (8-4) can test themselves against the SEC gauntlet, they have one more opportunity to fine-tune themselves when they face Albany (4-10) on Tuesday in Columbia, S.C.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n After failing to pick up any quality wins in nonconference play following a 68-61 road defeat against Clemson, South Carolina bounced back nicely Dec. 22 with a 95-70 win against South Carolina State.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Though it was against an inferior opponent, the Gamecocks showed improvement on both sides of the ball. South Carolina had five players score in double figures, shot 59.1% from the floor and held the Bulldogs to 41.9%.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “I thought it was a good effort by our guys,” Gamecocks head coach Lamont Paris said following the win. “… I thought they did a really good job of being locked into what they were trying to get done (that day).”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n <\/p>\n Getting Myles Stute (season-high 15 points) going offensively was a welcome sight for the Gamecocks. Stute has struggled to shoot the ball from the perimeter this season (27.9%) and was 2-for-13 from long distance in his previous four games before knocking down 3 of 5 threes in the win against South Carolina State.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n South Carolina has shot poorly from 3-point range, which is something it’ll have to correct in order to have success in SEC play. After going 6-for-21 from long distance against the Bulldogs, the Gamecocks are shooting 29.9% from 3-point range as a team, 329th in Division I and better than only Boston College and Florida among major-conference teams.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n As for Albany, the Great Danes have really struggled so far this season, picking up just one win against a Division I opponent, a 71-55 win over Stony Brook on Dec. 17. They followed that win, however, with an 83-75 defeat against Cornell last time out on Dec. 21.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Offensively, Albany is led by guard Amir Lindsey who comes in averaging 16.5 points and 4.5 assists per game. Lindsey is a 37.7% 3-point shooter.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n