The modest two-game winning streak for USC ended Wednesday night at UAB 84-70. The Blazers led wire to wire to improve to 8-2. The Gamecocks fall to 5-5. GG Jackson led the Gamecocks with 20 points, 15 coming in the second half. The Blazers KJ Buffe led all scorers with 25.
UAB jumped out to a 10-0 lead with Jelly Walker, the nation’s leading scorer, accounting for all the points with 3 three-pointers and a free throw. The Gamecocks responded to tie the game at 11. That would be the only tie of the game.
UAB led 22-20 with 8:45 left in the half and then went on a 20-8 run to end the half with a 42-28 lead. The Blazers opened the second half with a 10-3 run for a 52-33 lead, and eventually stretched the advantage to 21 points.
UAB had a big advantage in the paint outscoring USC 40-26. The Blazers beat the Gamecocks on the boards 41-32 including 17 offensive rebounds they converted into 19 points.
The Gamecocks are back in action Saturday in Greenville against East Carolina.
