Gamecocks pull out overtime win on the road
After a messy game, South Carolina got a big win against Missouri on the road 71-69 in overtime. The Gamecocks struggled throughout the game but rallied in the end when they needed it most.
Mizzou’s defense proved a tough challenge for South Carolina. The Gamecocks brought low energy to the court tonight followed by rough passes, bad ball security and rebounding efforts but found a small amount of momentum in the end to get the job done.
How it happened
South Carolina (14-2, 2-1 SEC) came out of the gate strong, but Mizzou caught up in the first half. The game was evenly matched but both teams lacked confidence. Going into the matchup, Mizzou was 0-2 in SEC play and they brought the pressure on Saturday.
Despite the win, South Carolina was showing signs of a struggling basketball team. They struggled throughout the game and looked sloppy overall and will not have success in future SEC play if this style of play continues.
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Coming in after a loss on the road to Alabama, the Gamecocks played well when it mattered most but lacked consistency. South Carolina relied heavily on three-point shots throughout the game and it did not work well for them until the end.
A close game going into the half, the Gamecocks could not build momentum throughout the second and trailed for the majority of it.
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In overtime, Jacobi Wright hit what would be the game-winning shot with 13.2 seconds left to play.
Ta’Lon Cooper and Wright each had 11 points in the game. Cooper had eight rebounds as well. South Carolina still looked careless on the court throughout the night until overtime.
Head coach Lamont Paris has his work cut out for him. The Gamecocks will need to make some necessary changes if they want to succeed in the rest of SEC play.
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Two observations
South Carolina lacks confidence on the road—The Gamecocks are 9-0 at home but on the road they are not the same basketball team. As South Carolina moves to 2-2 on the road, Paris will need to find a solution for this struggling team ahead of the next road game against Arkansas Jan 20.
Johnson struggled—Meechie Johnson is the clear leader of this team. When Meechie is on a hot streak, momentum follows. However when Johnson struggles, the team struggles and tonight showed that.
Key stat
21 points from BJ Mack—As Johnson struggled, Mack picked this team up and carried them to victory in overtime. It was a sign of improvement for him after struggling the past few games.
Turning point
The Gamecocks shifted momentum in overtime. South Carolina played aggressive and strong in overtime helping them get the victory after a sloppy, messy game. The South Carolina team playing in overtime looked different and stronger than the South Carolina team throughout the rest of the game.
Up next
The Gamecocks will head back to Columbia to host Georgia Jan. 16. Tip off is set for 9 p.m. on ESPNU.
