USC was playing some of its best basketball of the season going into Wednesday night’s game at Ole Miss having won five of six. And the Gamecocks had won five of their seven road games. None of that mattered to the Rebels who won for just the second time in ten games, and for the second time in SEC play. Ole Miss never trailed in beating USC 84-70. The Gamecocks fall to 13-9 overall and 5-4 in the SEC.

Inside the USC loss at Ole Miss

• The Rebels scored the first eight points of the game, the first time the Gamecocks have trailed in a game since Vanderbilt had a 7-6 lead in an ultimate USC victor January 25th.
• USC trailed 11-10 before Ole Miss went on a 9-0 run to lead 20-10. The Gamecocks got back to within six late in the half but trailed at the break 43-32.
• The Gamecocks closed to within 43-36 two minutes into the second half, but the Rebels ran off 10 straight points to lead 53-36. Eight points was as close as USC would get the rest of the way.
• Jermaine Couisnard carried the Gamecock offense with a career high 28 points. Maik Kotsar was the only other Gamecocks in double figures with 19.
• USC’s leading scorer, AJ Lawson, was just 2-10 from the floor and finished with 8 points.
• Breein Tyree was outstanding for Ole Miss with a career high 38 points. Blake Hinson, brother of former Gamecock Evan Hinson, added 13 points and 7 rebounds. and Irmo native Devontae Shuler had 7 points and 4 assists.
• USC, which has been awful from the lines this season, hit 18 of 23 foul shots. But the Rebels were 24-32. The Rebels also won the rebounding battle by 10 and had 13 offensive boards.
• USC returns home Saturday afternoon to face Texas A&M.
• Gamecock forward Justin Minaya will have thumb surgery Thursday morning according to Frank Martin. Doctors will know more after the surgery but Martin said he wouldn’t expect Minaya back before March.
• Final Box

USC postgame press conference