Arkansas 108-USC 74 Game Summary
- Arkansas came into the game #1 in three-point shooting in the SEC, and the Razorbacks went 8-21, but it was at the rim where they destroyed the Gamecocks. The Hogs had 12 dunks, many on fastbreaks, off of which they scored 32 points, and that was part of their 66-point barrage in the paint.
- The Gamecocks had no answer defensively, nor did they seem to have much interest in playing defense. Time and again, they were beaten off the dribble. or on screens, as the Razorbacks easily got into the lane for great looks.
- USC forced only four turnovers while turning the ball over 16 times, with the Razorbacks coming away with a dozen steals. Arkansas scored 22 points off the turnovers. Add in eight blocked shots, and South Carolina went 24 possessions without getting the ball to the rim.
- The game got away from USC after Meechie Johnson tied things at 10-10 with a free throw at the 15:36 mark. Over the next four minutes, Arkansas went on a 12-2 run that was a sign of things to come. The Hogs had an alleyoop dunk and two fastbreak layups during that surge.
- The Gamecocks got as close as six at 32-26 on a triple by Elijah Strong with 6:34 left in the half. That was as close as USC would get as Arkansas led at halftime by 12, 50-38.
- Arkansas opened the second half by making 12 of 13 shots, and they never cooled off, with another stretch of 11-15 shooting. The Hogs shot 70% in the second half, including making five three pointers.
- Meechie Johnson was the only offensive threat for USC. He scored 29 points, four off his career high. He was 9-13 from the floor, 3-6 from deep, and 8-10 from the line. He also had six assists. No other Gamecock scored in double figures.
- Arkansas had six double-figure scorers led by Meleek Thomas with 21 points. Darius Acuff had 18 points and 13 assists.
- The 108 points by Arkansas are the most an opponent has scored against Lamont Paris at South Carolina.
- The Gamecocks fall to 10-7 overall and 1-3 in the SEC. They will play at Auburn on Saturday night.
“The Gamecocks had no answer defensively, nor did they seem to have much interest in playing defense. Time and again, they were beaten off the dribble. or on screens, as the Razorbacks easily got into the lane for great looks.”
Gamecock basketball fans can only hope that Donati is compiling a list of head coaching candidates to replace coach Paris as soon as this dreadful season is over. His teams have often looked lost, out of position and poorly coached. There seems to be little effort and drive at times as well. The result has been the same throughout his 4-year tenure, we always have a handful of humiliating loses of 25+ points. Overall, his SEC record has been atrocious as well. Hopefully Donati’s first big hire will be a home run and someone who can build a consistent winner in South Carolina men’s basketball.