Playing shorthanded with TJ Moss home for a funeral,Trae Hannibal out with an ankle injury, and Keyshawn Bryant going out in the first quarter with a shoulder injury, and with four others hampered by foul trouble, USC nonetheless went to Texas A&M Saturday afternoon and won their second straight SEC game 81-67. The Gamecocks are now 2-2 in league play and 10-7 overal. The win was their second straight in College Station and third straight over the Aggies.
Key notes from the USC win at Texas A&M
- The Gamecocks led nearly 36 minutes of the game and were up 6 at halftime. The Aggies took their last lead at 49-48 with 11:50 to play. From there the Gamecocks went on a 17-6 run for a 10 point lead. A&M got no closer than 6 the rest of the way.
- The Gamecocks hit a school record tying 16 three-pointers, in 30 attempts. That matches their record for the most threes made in a game which they set last February against Texas A&M.
- Jair Bolden, who was benched for the entirety of the Kentucky game, came off the bench to score a team high 19 points, including 5 three pointers. Justin Minaya knocked down 4 three point shots on his way to a career high 18 points. And Kentucky game hero Jermaine Couisnard drilled 3 from distance and finished with 17 points. And AJ Lawson broke out of his shooting slump nailing 4 three-pointers and totaling 13 points, his best production since the win at Virginia December 22nd.
- Texas A&M made just 3 three-point shots and could have made up some of the difference at the foul line, but the Aggies where just 28-41 from the stripe. The Gamecocks were whistled for 28 fouls to A&M’s 14. USC was 7-8 at the line.
- The ball moved well in the Gamecocks’ offense…they had 22 assists for their 29 baskets. Maik Kotsar led with 7 assists and also paced the team with 10 rebounds. The Gamecocks won on the boards 38-27 including 14 on the offensive glass.
- Final Box
Frank Martin and Jair Bolden meet with the media
