Lack of turnovers make huge difference for South Carolina to get back on track

South Carolina men’s basketball has knocked on the door of its first win of 2025 many times. That door finally opened Saturday night in an 84-69 win over the Texas Longhorns.

Heading into that game, the Gamecocks had six losses in conference play decided by five points or less this season.

“All the players and all the coaches are probably writing down all the things they did differently from their normal routine,” head coach Lamont Paris said. “Used a different pillow when they went to bed last night, (a) new pair of shoes.”

Superstition can play a factor in the team’s mindset, but it’s not what won the game for South Carolina according to Paris.

Keep up with all things Gamecocks for just $1 per week—lock in this special offer today!

Paris said a lack of turnovers was the key to the Gamecocks first SEC win when he spoke to the media postgame.

“In a lot of these games when we didn’t turn it over, just the possessions that we got a shot, our points-per-possession were over one,” Paris said. “… So it really has come down to turnovers, so it was nice that we had a game where we only turned it over twice in the first half and then we did have a really good point-per-possession in the first half.”

South Carolina has had many games where turnovers lost them the matchup, Paris said. The Gamecocks eight turnovers Saturday was only the second time in conference play that South Carolina won the turnover battle. 

Turnovers have been an issue Paris has notably talked about throughout all of SEC play. Namely, the Gamecocks had turned the ball over 105 times in a six-game stretch from Jan. 15 to Feb. 1. 

The bulk of those turnovers were guys needing to step up and play better, Paris said after a road loss to Georgia.

“But, even we have had guys like Zach (Davis) at one point, this is a real stat, through 15-16 games he had 15 total turnovers and then he had 15 in the following three games also,” Paris said. “Why would that happen? It has less to do with your ability and just what you’re doing when you’re out there on the floor.”

Win tickets to USC-Clemson baseball (Sunday game in Columbia)

Murray-Boyles and Thomas scored a team-high 22 and 15 points respectively and tied Jacobi Wright for a team-high three assists in Saturday’s win over Texas.

Having South Carolina’s flowing through the pair is something Paris has been looking for. Paris said during Carolina Calls on Feb. 6 that having the offense move through them would help solve some of the turnover issues on the offensive side of the ball.

A lot of Murray-Boyles’ strong performance came as a result of answering his coaches’ call to help run the floor. 

“Just be more aggressive, more assertive with the ball,” Murray-Boyles said. “When I get it at the high post, be more willing to attack.” 

Murray-Boyles’ game showcased some of his most efficient moves on the season, Paris said. 

“That was (a) generation of offense,” Paris said. “ … that was us having our offense generated by and large by Colin Murray Boyles. I said coming into the season that would be the biggest challenge.” 

Paris will continue to look to his star forward as conference play winds down. South Carolina has just four games left to grab a few more conference wins before the SEC Tournament kicks off.

For now, the message among the team is to try to keep the momentum rolling and stay locked in.

“Let’s celebrate for tonight, and get right back to it tomorrow,” Murray-Boyles said.

Discuss South Carolina basketball on The Insiders Forum!