#Gamecocks jackhammered again in the Yellowhammer State, fall to Auburn 101-61 (AUDIO)

Auburn, AL: In what has been a memorable season thus far for 11th ranked South Carolina, the Gamecocks’ two visits into the state of Alabama have been forgettable. They lost in Tuscaloosa in January 74-47, and Wednesday night they were blown out at #13 Auburn 101-61

The loss was the seventh straight in the series for USC, and it snapped their seven-game winning streak.

The Gamecocks were not quick enough on offense to get free from Auburn’s sticky man-to-man defense, and they had no answers on defense for all of the Tigers’ weapons. Coacb Lamont Paris said the fact they couldn’t get stops hindered their ability to get into transition and find easy baskets.

The only high point of the game from a USC standpoint was an early five-point lead. Auburn tied the game at 9-9, and then the Tigers were off to the races. A 13-3 run gave Auburn a 22-12 lead. The Gamecocks got back to within seven at 22-15, but the Tigers finished the half outscoring USC 28-13 for a 50-28 lead. The Tigers nailed their final six shots of the half, including four three-pointers.

The 50 points were the most allowed in a half all season by the Gamecocks. That is, until the Gamecocks gave up 51 points in the second half.

After making their first three shots of the game, the Gamecocks were just 7-25 the rest of the half. The Tigers started the game 0-3 from the floor, then made 19 of their last 27 shots of the half. They shot 63% for the half including 7-11 from three-point range. Jaylin Williams had four of those long balls and 16 points in the half.

Things were no better for USC in the second half. They could not put together enough baskets and defensive stops to make a serious run. The closest they got to the Tigers was 16 points at 60-44. Any hopes of a deeper cut into the lead were squashed by a 20-6 run that put the Tigers up 80-50. Johni Broome had 12 of those points for the Tigers.

The Tigers, who host Kentucky Saturday night, put a finishing flourish on their performance making eight of their final ten shots while holding the Gamecocks without a field goal for the final 4:42. Auburn finished with a 61% shooting night, the best mark against the Gamecocks all season. They also made 12 three-point shots, second most against USC this season to Alabama’s 15.

Defensively, the Tigers held the Gamecocks to 35% shooting and just 3-15 from three, a season low in three-point shooting for the Gamecocks. USC suffered 13 turnovers which Auburn converted into 25 points. The Tigers outscored USC 16-2 in fastbreak points and 39-1 off the bench.

One of the few birght spots for USC was the offensive performance of Meechie Johnson. He broke out of a shooting slump by making 8-17 and finishing with a team high 22 points. He also grabbed seven boards. Collin Murray-Boyles added 19 points and seven rebounds.

Williams led Auburn with 23 points including five three-point field goals. Broome was also big for Auburn with 21 points including four three-pointers.

The loss knocks USC out of a first place tie in the SEC with Alabama. The Gamecocks are now 9-3 in SEC play, tied with the Tigers a half-game behind the Crimson Tide. USC is 21-4 overall and wlll host LSU Saturday afternoon.

Final Stats

Lamont Paris postgame press conference

Meechie Johnson postgame media session