Clemson to Play Host to Mississippi Monday Night at Littlejohn Coliseum

March 18, 2007

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Series Notes Overall: Clemson leads 2-1 at Clemson: Clemson leads 1-1 at Littlejohn: Tied 1-1 at Neutral: Clemson leads 1-0 In the NIT: Mississippi leads 1-0 Last Meeting: 53-49, Mississippi, 1982 NIT at Clemson Clemson History in the NIT: Overall: 12-13 at Clemson: 7-3 Best Finish: 2nd in 1999

Quick Facts • This is the 25-year anniversary of the last time Clemson met Mississippi. The Rebels won that game at Clemson on March 12, 1982 by a 53-49 score. That is the last time Clemson lost an NIT home game. The Tigers have won seven straight at home in the NIT since that loss.

• Clemson is 3-0 so far against the SEC this year, the first time in history Clemson has had three wins in the same year over SEC teams. Clemson has defeated Mississippi State and Georgia at Clemson and won at South Carolina. Clemson has forced 55 turnovers with 30 steals in the three combined wins over SEC teams so far this year.

• James Mays has been Clemson’s top player this year against SEC teams with a 15.7 scoring average and 8.7 rebounds per game. Vernon Hamilton has a 14/2 assist/turnover ratio against SEC teams.

• With Clemson’s 22 wins this year the Tigers have now increased their victory total by at least three wins each of the last three years. Oliver Purnell is just the third coach in ACC history to accomplish that feat, joining Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski and former Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins.

• A victory on Monday would put Clemson in the Elite Eight of the NIT for just the third time. Clemson reached the Elite Eight in 1986 before losing at Wyoming in the third round. Clemson reached the NIT finals in 1999.

• Mississippi is coached by Andy Kennedy, who is in his first season in Oxford. Kennedy began his college playing career at NC State in 1986-87. He played in two games against the Tigers that year, but did not score in six total minutes. He also has coaching experience against Clemson as an assistant under Bob Huggins in 2003-04.

• Clemson has five players averaging in double figures entering the Mississippi game. Clemson has finished a season with five players averaging in double figures just once, the 1969-70 season.

• Clemson has 22 wins so far this year, already the fifth most in Clemson history and the most since the 1996-97 team had a 23-10 final record.

• K.C. Rivers had 17 points and 14 rebounds in the win over East Tennessee State in the first round of the NIT. It was his career high in rebounds and the first double-double of his career.

• James Mays are in quite a battle to become Clemson’s top rebounder this year. Mays has 208 and Booker has 207 entering the Mississippi game. Booker’s total is fourth in school history among freshman. No freshman has led Clemson in rebounding since 1995-96 (Harold Jamison).

• Each of Clemson’s last six games have been decided by seven points or less.