The Florida men's and women's basketball teams each will play in pivotal SEC games tonight.

The No. 12 Gator men will host South Carolina at 9 p.m., in a nationally-televised ESPN2 game. Florida is currently in second place(5-1)  in the SEC East Standings, one game ahead of Vanderbilt (5-2) - whom the Gators will host on Saturday. So tonight's game is important to remain near the top behind Kentucky, which is undefeated in league play.

Florida has won nine of the last 12 meetings against South Carolina. The Gators are on a five-game winning streak and will try to extend their home winning streak this season to 12.

The Florida women are in Baton Rouge to play LSU at 7 p.m., trying to rebound from a one-point, double overtime loss to Arkansas on Sunday. Tonight's game is desperation time for both the Gators and LSU.

Florida (13-8, 3-5 SEC) has lost its last two games and is two games out of .500 in the SEC standings. After winning its first four conference games, LSU (14-7, 4-4 SEC) has lost four straight. Unfortunately for the Gators, Florida hasn't won in Baton Rouge since Jan. 21, 1996.

The Gators are playing the last game in a three-game SEC road swing. Tonight's game is a homecoming for Gator senior Deana Allen, a native of Houma, La., which is located just 65 miles from Baton Rouge.