GAME NOTES: The Auburn Tigers take aim at their 10th win of the season as they host the Gamecocks of South Carolina Saturday in an SEC affair at Auburn Arena.

Auburn is coming off a devastating 75-55 loss to SEC foe Florida on Thursday, and the Tigers have lost two of their last three games. Auburn is just 1-2 in conference play so far, but the Tigers do own an impressive 8-1 record on their home court.

South Carolina put a stop to a two-game skid with a narrow 68-66 victory over Alabama on Tuesday. The Gamecocks are 10-5 on the season, but own just a 1-2 mark in conference action. On the road, South Carolina is just 1-1.

Auburn leads the all-time series against South Carolina, 22-15, although the Gamecocks had the last laugh on March 12 in the SEC Tournament when they took down the Tigers, 74-46, in Atlanta.

South Carolina carried a five-point lead into the second half of Tuesday's win over Alabama, and the Gamecocks endured a comeback attempt by the Crimson Tide that shaved three of those five points off the team's first-half lead. Tyrone Johnson scored 13 points to lead South Carolina, while Michael Carrera added 12 points and eight rebounds and Mindaugas Kacinas chipped in with 10 points and eight boards of his own. South Carolina shot 41.5 percent from the field, but made only 3-of-14 from 3-point range. The Gamecocks did connect on 21- of-27 from the free-throw line, though.

Duane Notice netted eight points in the team's win over the Crimson Tide, which checked in below his team-leading scoring average this season. Now Notice heads into Saturday's matchup averaging 12.1 ppg on 42.9 percent shooting. Johnson chips in with 10.5 ppg and 55 assists, while Sindarius Thornwell contributes 10.5 ppg himself. Kacinas grabs a team-leading 6.1 rpg, and Marcus Stroman leads South Carolina with 60 assists on the season. The Gamecocks are averaging 71.2 ppg on 44.6 percent shooting, while allowing opponents to score just 60.0 ppg on a dismal 35.5 percent mark from the field.

Auburn's abysmal first half against Florida destroyed the team's hope of making any sort of comeback attempt for a win on Thursday night. The Tigers shot 22.2 percent in the opening frame and fell behind the Gators, 37-20, at halftime. Antoine Mason scored 13 points to pace Auburn on the road, while Cinmeon Bowers notched a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds. He also dished out a team-best four assists in the losing effort. The Tigers made 6- of-18 from 3- point distance, and hit only 17-of-26 from the free-throw line.

Even though Auburn failed to show up for Thursday night's devastating loss to Florida, the Tigers still will trot out some of the best individual players in the conference this season. KT Harrell leads the Tigers in scoring at 16.4 ppg, which checks in at third in the SEC. Bowers, who averages 13.5 ppg this season, leads the team and the conference in rebounding, pulling down 11.3 boards per outing. Mason rounds out a trio of double-digit scorers for Auburn at 14.4 ppg, while K.C. Ross-Miller is tied for first in the SEC with 2.3 spg. Harrell leads the conference with 42 made 3-pointers to this point in the season. The trouble for Auburn has been a scoring defense that allows 67.4 ppg.

It's never an easy feat trying to recover from a 20-point loss, but the Tigers at least get to do so on their home court. South Carolina is a well-rounded team, especially on offense. The Gamecocks won't be afraid on an opposing fan base in this one.