Clemson Men’s Basketball Team to Face Mississippi State on the Road Thursday Night

Nov. 14, 2007

Site: Humphrey Coliseum (10,500)Date: Thursday, November 15, 2007Tickets: AvailableCity: Starkville, Time: 8:00 PM (Eastern)TV: Fox Sports Net South (Dave Neal, Mike Gminski)Radio: Clemson Tiger Sports Properties (Pete Yanity, Tim Bourret)

Series NotesOverall: Clemson leads 2-0at Starkville: First Meetingat Clemson: Clemson leads 1-0at Littlejohn: Clemson leads 1-0at Neutral: Clemson leads 1-0First Meeting: Clemson, 59-32 in 1981-82Last Meeting: Clemson, 69-66 in 2006-07

Game Notes Clemson won its 23rd consecutive season opener with a 91-46 victory over Furman on November 12. It was Clemson’s largest victory margin in a season opener since a 114-69 win over Morehead State in 1991-92.

Clemson tied a school record with 25 steals in the win over Furman. Clemson had 25 in its season opening win over Hampton in 2004-05, Oliver Purnell’s second season at Clemson. James Mays led Clemson with six steals, the most steals by a Clemson frontcourt player since Iker Iturbe had six against NC State on March 1, 1995.

Oliver Purnell’s is now 5-0 in season openers at Clemson with an average victory margin of 37.6

Clemson forward James Mays got his senior season off to a good start with 17 points, six rebounds and six steals against Furman in just 20 minutes of play. It was his career high in steals and tied a Clemson record for steals in a game by a frontcourt player.

This is the first of four meetings against SEC teams for the Tigers in 2007-08. This is the first time Clemson has played four SEC teams during the regular season. Clemson was 4-0 last yeat against teams from the SEC, including a win over Mississippi in the NIT. Purnell is 7-3 against SEC teams as the Clemson coach, including seven wins in his last eight games.

Clemson was 18-1 last year against non-conference teams, and is 1-0 this year.

Clemson has a 19-1 record in the month of November under Oliver Purnell’s and has won 14 games in a row. Clemson is 82-15 all-time in November.

Oliver Purnell’s.

Clemson defeated Mississippi State last year at Clemson by a 69-66 score. James Mays had 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Mississippi State center Brian Johnson played against Clemson for Louisville in the 2006 NIT. He had a still career high 13 points and 13 rebounds against the Tigers in that game.

Clemson forced 37 Furman turnovers in its season opening win. Mississippi State committed just four turnovers on offense in its season opening victory over Louisiana Tech.

Clemson was picked 12th in the preseason college basketball poll by Basketball Times. The Tigers were also ranked 22nd by Street & Smith. The Tigers are 26th in poll points by USA Today and 27th by Associated Press this week.