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South Carolina announces exhibition game against Lamont Paris' alma mater

imageby:Jack Veltri•10/09/24•

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Lamont Paris (Katie Dugan/GamecockCentral)

South Carolina will open the 2024-25 men’s basketball season against an unfamiliar opponent, albeit one head coach Lamont Paris knows all too well.

The Gamecocks will take on Paris’ alma mater, The College of Wooster, in an exhibition bout on Wednesday, Oct. 30. Tip-off will be at 7 p.m. at Colonial Life Arena and admission will be free.

Press release from USC Athletics

“I’m really excited to bring Wooster to Columbia for an exhibition game,” said Paris. “I hope that this opportunity will not only lay the foundation for an outstanding season, but will also provide an experience that the Wooster players will look back on for years to come. They are coached by my friends and former teammate so it should make for a fun night of basketball.”

Paris played four seasons for the Fighting Scots from 1992-96, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business economics in 1996. He was team MVP, serving as team captain his final two seasons. Paris was a two-time All-North Coast Athletic Conference selection as he helped Wooster make three trips to the NCAA Tournament (Division III) and win a pair of NCAC Championships.

Paris, a native of Findlay, Ohio, played for legendary coach Steve Moore at Wooster. Moore led the team to a 780-188 record in 33 seasons, averaging 23.6 wins per year. He is the school’s all-time leader in winning percentage (.806) and led the Scots to 28 NCAA Tournament appearances. He is the all-time winningest coach in NCAA Division III and his 867 total wins are 12th all-time in NCAA basketball, just behind Adolph Rupp (876) and Dean Smith (879).

After leading the Gamecocks to one of the best single-seasons in program history and winning SEC Coach of the Year, Paris delivered the keynote address at The College of Wooster’s commencement ceremony for the class of 2024 in May.

There will be no TV broadcast but Derek Scott (pxp) and Casey Manning (analyst) will provide a live internet broadcast of the game.

Season tickets remain available and more information can be found here.

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