Colonial Life Arena: South Carolina successfully defended their #15 national ranking in their first game since breaking into the poll this week with a thrilling 68-65 win over Ole Miss Tuesday night in Columbia. Over the first 24 minutes, the Gamecocks looked like a top ten team as they built a 17 point lead. But the Rebels, who came in with 18 wins, would not go down quietly.
Trailing 53-36 with 15:42 to play, the Rebels cut the lead to three 61-58 with 7:32 to play on a jumper by Allen Flanigan. The Gamecocks pushed the lead back to six, but a three-pointer by Matthew Murrell made it a three-point game again with 5:40 left.
Collin Murray-Boyles gave the Gamecocks some breathing room with a basket with 3:47 left for a five-point lead at 68-63. That would be the Gamecocks’ final points of the night. Flanagan then scored on a jumper with :38 to play to make it a one-possession game again.
After each side used a timeout, the Gamecocks did not get a good look on their final possession, and Meechie Johnson had to take a long three that missed. Murrell rebounded with five-seconds left and raced down the floor. He hoisted a three to tie but missed, and the Gamecocks celebrated their sixth straight SEC win.
Both teams were sharp offensively to open the game. The Gamecocks made 12 of their first 16 shots, and the Rebels knocked down 11 of their first 14. Yet, the Gamecocks held a 30-17 lead thanks to six three-pointers compared to just one for the Rebels. USC went on to lead 43-31 at the half after shooting 62% compared to 56% for Ole Miss.
Both teams cooled off in the second half, especially in the final minutes. Each made just one basket over the final five minutes. The defenses stepped up both ways with the Gamecocks losing a pair of turnovers and Murray-Boyles coming up with a block of a dunk attempt by Jamarion Sharp to protect the five-point lead.
That block was one of two in the game for Murray-Boyles who also led the Gamecocks in scoring and rebounds with 16 and nine. Ta’lon Cooper had 12 points, and Myles Stute added 12 points off the bench hitting four three-pointers. Meechie Johnson dished ouit eight assists. The Gamecocks had 16 assists on their 28 buckets.
The Gamecocks had nine three-pointers and were also strong inside with 10 offensive rebounds they converted into 10 points, and they outscored the Rebels 32-28 in the paint.
The Gamecocks improved to 20-3 overall and 8-2 in the SEC. The win secured the 18th 20-win season in program history. Their six game SEC winning streak is their longest since the 1997 squad reeled off 11 straight victories on their way to the SEC regular season championship.
The Gamecocks will be back at home Saturday afternoon to face Vanderbilt.
Final Stats
