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Vanderbilt opens SEC play against South Carolina

Jan 9, 2008 - 2:34 PM South Carolina (8-6) at No. 12 Vanderbilt (15-0) 8:00 pm EST

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) - After ending its non-conference schedule unbeaten, No. 12 Vanderbilt faces South Carolina on Wednesday in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams.

The Commodores, who are off to a school-record start, have won three straight against the Gamecocks. Vanderbilt leads the all-time series, 21-19.

Senior swingman Shan Foster, a three-time conference Player of the Week selection, is averaging a conference-best 21.1 points per game for the Commodores. Foster is coming off a career-high 32 points in Vanderbilt's last game, a 97-88 victory over UMass on Saturday. Foster needs one 3-pointer to become the Commodores' all-time leader, currently tied with Ronnie McMahan at 296.

Freshman center A.J. Ogilvy is averaging 19.3 points and 7.3 rebounds for Vanderbilt. The 6-foot-10, 250-pound native of Sydney, Australia, is coming off a 25-point, 11-rebound performance against the Minutemen.

"Ogilvy runs so hard. He moves and catches well," South Carolina coach Dave Odom said. "He has great feet and hands. He finishes well inside. He has great presence and knows how to handle the ball inside."

Sophomore guard Devan Downey, a transfer from Cincinnati, leads the Gamecocks in scoring (18.6 points per game), assists (5.36 apg) and steals (3.29 spg). Junior guard Zam Fredrick, a transfer from Georgia Tech, averages 16 points for South Carolina.