South Carolina aims to repeat at NIT

No. 3 S. Carolina (22-15) vs. No. 1 Michigan (22-10) 7:00 pm EST

NEW YORK (Ticker) - Although the National Invitation Tournament sometimes is looked at as a consolation prize, South Carolina and Michigan have made the most of their opportunities.

The last two champions of the event, the Gamecocks and Wolverines meet Thursday in the title game at Madison Square Garden.

South Carolina (22-15) won this event last season with a win over Saint Joseph's in the championship and is looking to become the first repeat champion since St. John's in 1943-44.

Renaldo Balkman scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds as the third-seeded Gamecocks posted a 78-63 victory over Louisville in Tuesday's semifinals. The victory gave South Carolina coach Dave Odom a 17-3 mark in the event, including a title in 2000 with Wake Forest.

Tarence Kinsey had 21 points and Brandon Wallace chipped in 19 for the Gamecocks, whose only loss in their last nine games was to current Final Four squad Florida in the championship of the Southeastern Conference tournament.

Michigan (22-10) was the winner here in 2004 with a triumph over Rutgers and has won the title three times in the 23 years, although its 1997 championship was vacated due to NCAA infractions.

Wolverines coach Tommy Amaker improved to 9-3 in the NIT by guiding his team to a 66-43 win over Old Dominion on Tuesday. Courtney Sims scored 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting and Michigan dominated on the defensive end.

Amaker's club held the Monarchs to a 28 percent (15-of-53) effort from the floor and forced 14 turnovers to win its fourth straight since a 2-7 stretch.

The Wolverines have won two of three previous meetings between the teams.