COLONIAL LIFE ARENA: South Carolina arguably played the biggest game in its Colonial Life Arena history Wednesday night, facing No. 4 Tennessee with first place in the SEC on the line with one regular season game remaining.
The No. 17 Gamecocks couldn’t deliver for the sold-out crowd, dropping a 66-59 decision to the Volunteers on the final home regular season game and senior night for three USC transfers. Tennessee clinches the SEC regular season championship.
The 59 points were the lowest scoring output at home this season for the Gamecocks. South Carolina finishes with a 14-3 home record. The teams split the regular season series with South Carolina winning the first game, 63-59, in Knoxville.
Dalton Knecht, the transfer from Northern Colorado and front-runner for SEC Player of the Year, scored 26 points. He had 14 points on 4-of-5 shooting from three-point land in staking Tennessee (24-6, 14-3) to a 35-24 halftime lead.
It was tied at 19 with 7:34 remaining in the half after a BJ Mack basket. But the Vols rattled off a 14-3 run to take control Knecht connected on three 3-pointers during the spurt and Jordan Gainey started the run with a three-pointer.
Tennessee ended the first half shooting 41.3% while the Gamecocks (24-6, 12-5) were at 32.3% that included just 4-of-17 beyond the arc.
South Carolina (24-6, 12-5) had a couple of runs in them in the second half. A 6-0 spurt trimmed a 40-28 Volunteers lead to 40-34 and forced a timeout by the Vols. Zakai Zeigler made two free throws and Knecht converted a four-point play to push the margin back to double digits with 10:55 remaining.
After the Vols built a 55-44 lead, the Gamecocks got it back to within three points, 59-56, when Meechie Johnson scored on a lay-up with 1:14 remaining. Jonas Aidoo made 1-of-2 free throws and Ta’Lon Cooper tried to draw a four on a three-point attempt before the Gamecocks had to start fouling with 27 seconds remaining.
Aidoo scored 14 points with nine rebounds. Zakai Zeigler added 13 points and seven assists for Tennessee. The Volunteers outscored the Gamecocks by 14 from the free throw line. Tennessee finished 19-of-22 while South Carolina was 5-of-10.
Meechie Johnson scored 18 points and Cooper scored 11 points in his final home game. Collin Murray-Boyles recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
The Gamecocks close the regular season on the road Saturday at Mississippi State. Pending the outcome of the Kentucky-Vanderbilt game later Wednesday night, South Carolina could find itself in a four-way tie for second place with Auburn, Alabama and the Wildcats. If those four teams remained tied, the Gamecocks would be the No. 5 seed in the upcoming SEC Tournament.
Kentucky plays on the road at Tennessee, Arkansas is at Alabama and Georgia is at Auburn.
Final Stats
