COLONIAL LIFE ARENA: GG Jackson set a new career-high with 22 points and the Gamecocks snapped a three-game losing streak with a 68-53 victory over USC Upstate, Friday.
The teams went back and forth throughout the first half, trading the lead a dozen times over the first 20 minutes. The Spartans played an efficient first half, connecting on 52% of their shots from the field to help them carry a 31-28 lead into the locker room. But the second half was a different story. USC regained the lead with a quick 14-2 burst and never looked back. The Gamecocks knocked down 58% of their shots from the field in the second half to pull away.
Ahmir Langlais (14 points, seven rebounds) and Jordan Gainey (13 points) led the Spartans attack. USC’s Hayden Brown scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds before fouling out with 1:52 remaining. In addition to setting a new high in scoring, Jackson shot better than 50% (8 of 14) for the second straight game and hit three 3-pointers (3 of 6) for the first time in his young collegiate career.
South Carolina (3-3) is in the nation’s capital for its next two contests, starting with a game at George Washington, Wednesday. Tipoff from the Smith Center in Washington, D.C. is set for 9 p.m.
