COLONIAL LIFE ARENA: Virginia Tech scored the final three points of overtime and then survived a three-point attempt by South Carolina’s Elijah Strong to take an 86-83 win over the Gamecocks Tuesday night in Columbia in the SEC-ACC Challenge.
Tech’s Ben Hammond drew a foul while making a layup with :13 to play to put the Hokies up 85-83. He missed the free throw, giving the Gamecocks a chance to take the lead. Meechie Johnson missed on a three-pointer with :03 remaining and Tech’s Amani Hansberry was fouled going for the rebound with :02 left. He made 1-2 at the line to give the Gamecocks one last opportunity.
Lamont Paris called timeout and set up a long pass to Elijah Strong into the frontcourt. Strong got a good look at a three-pointer, but it was off the mark as time expired.
The Gamecocks trailed by 10 in the first half, but cut the deficit to 37-34 at the half. Tech went up by eight in the second half, but the Gamecocks rallied to tie the game 65-65 with 4;34 left in regulation on a pair of free throws by Mike Sharavjamts.
Sharavjamts put USC up by three 68-65 with a tip-in and a free throw with 3:39 to play, but Hammond tied the game at the 3:20 mark with a three pointer.
Sharavjamts again put the Gamecocks up by two with a pair of free throws with 2:58 on the clock, but Amani Hansberry responded with a layup fifteen seconds later for the final points of regulation.
Both teams missed their shots down the stretch. The Gamecocks were off on a pair of threes, and Meechie Johnson missed two at the line, while the Hokies missed their final four shots.
The Gamecocks did have the ball last at the end of regulation :with :19 to play, and they got the ball in Johnson’s hands, but he dribbled out the clock looking for an opening and did not get a shot off.
Johnson and Strong led the Gamecocks with 18 points each. USC was only 8-30 from three, and was outrebounded 37-28. The Gamecocks were outscored in the paint 54-30.
The Gamecocks are 5-3 and will host Stetson on Saturday afternoon.
Final Stats
