South Carolina stays winless for February, sees losing streak extended to six games with 89-75 loss at Alabama Saturday night (AUDIO)

Alabama 89-USC 75 Game Summary

• With a week to prepare, Lamont Paris had the Gamecocks ready to play the Crimson Tide, and with Kobe Knox scoring at will, they opened a four-point lead after six minutes. Knox scored 12 of USC’s 14 points over a period of 5:32 when the Gamecocks took the lead, then lost the lead, then tied the game.
• A dunk by Knox with 10:10 left in the half tied the game at 23-23. Unfortunately for the Gamecocks, that’s the last time the game would be tied.
• The Crimson Tide scored seven straight points to go up 30-23. The Gamecocks got back to within three at 30-27, then the Tide rolled again with a 15-5 close to the half for a 45-32 lead.
• The lead grew to 16 points in the second half before the Gamecocks made a charge. Meechie Johnson scored nine straight points in a span of 3:13, and USC trailed 63-56 with 8:20 to play.
• With Johnson scoring seven of the team’s next 11 points, the Gamecocks were able to keep it close, trailing by just eight points with 3:23 left. But the Gamecocks made only one more field goal the rest of the game, while the Crimson Tide made three of their final five shots from the floor, and seven of eight from the line.
• Alabama came into the game averaging a national high of 36 three-point attempts per game, and #1 in the SEC and #2 nationally in made threes. The Crimson Tide were on par with that against the Gamecocks, making 14 of 34 shots from deep. The Gamecocks were 7 for 28.
• While Alabama had a 43-29 rebounding edge, it did not hurt the Gamecocks badly on the offensive glass. In fact, USC won the paint 34-28.
• Johnson led the Gamecocks with 26 points, 24 coming in the second half. Knox finished with 21 points, which matches his career high and is also his season high with the Gamecocks. He also had six rebounds and six assists before fouling out.
• Eli Ellis, who came in averaging 10 points per game, had the first scoreless game of his career as he attempted just one shot from the floor in 26 minutes.
• The sixth straight loss on the season, and the 11th straight loss to Alabama, dropped the Gamecocks to 11-14 overall and 2-10 in the SEC. They have clinched a losing SEC record for the third time in four seasons under Lamont Paris. They and LSU sit in the cellar of the SEC standings. The Gamecocks will play at Florida on Tuesday night.
• The Crimson Tide are now 18-7 and 8-4 with their fourth straight win. Next up will be Arkansas at home on Wednesday night.

Lamont Paris Postgame