Chico Carter Jr. nails buzzer-beater to lift Gamecocks over Clemson

By Willie T. Smith III

How It happened

Lamont Paris managed something that will endear him to South Carolina fans for some time – defeating Clemson in his initial meeting.

The fact it happened on his birthday was just icing on the cake.

In a game that was competitive throughout, Chico Carter Jr. hit a 12-foot jumper to give the Gamecocks a 60-58 victory in front of a raucous Colonial Life Arena crowd.

Carter, who has driven a long road to make it back to the Midlands, couldn’t have been more excited with the way things turned out.

“I never thought anything like this would happen,” said Carter, who returned to Columbia and USC after stints at two other schools with the last being Murray State. “I had 17 tickets for this game. Right now I just want to go hug my mom and all the other family members that were here to support me.”

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Carter led all players with 16 points, making six of nine field goals, including four of six 3-pointers.

After leading through most of the second half, the Gamecocks watched that lead evaporate when the Tigers scored seven straight points to tie the game at 58 with 7.8 seconds remaining.

Following a timeout, Carter hit a 12-foot jumper to give Carolina the win.

“What a great game,” said Paris. “College basketball is here. What an atmosphere. What a game. You’ve got two instate schools in here going at it. People aren’t going to like this, but I’ve known Brad Brownell for a long time. He’s a good man, a good coach also.

“When I got the job he was one of the first to call me. He said ‘You know we’re not allowed to be friends any more. It makes it tough, but fun and exciting to compete with someone like that.”

The game, which improved the Gamecocks to 2-0 on the season, marked a stark contrast to their close opening.

“This was a good win for them,” said Clemson coach Brad Brownell. “I just didn’t think we played well. A lot of that has to do with the physicality of South Carolina.”

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After getting off to a slow start, the Gamecocks found their way in the second 10 minutes of the first half. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Carter with the second coming with one second remaining in the period, gave USC its biggest lead of the game 35-26.

If it were not for a woeful 5-11 performance at the free throw line, the lead could have been more, although it appeared the Gamecocks were fighting just to stay with Clemson for much of the period.

The Tigers PJ Hall hurt USC inside early, scoring seven first half points. Carolina shut him down through the final 10 minutes, however. Jackson led all opening half scorers with 10 points and four rebounds.

Both teams shot 38 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes.

Three Observations

— GG Jackson is feeling his way, but has a great future ahead. He finished with 10 points and four rebounds, while playing 33:55. That’s the most minutes of any performer.

Josh Gray scored seven points and had 10 rebounds. He did a strong job guarding Clemson’s PJ Hall who scored seven points and pulled down four rebounds.

“I didn’t think he would play,” Gray said of Hall, who has been dealing with injuries since last season. But I knew I just had to put a body on him and play the best I could.”

— If it is going to be successful this season, USC must learn how to make free throws. It was 5-11 at the line against the Tigers. In some ways it allowed the Tigers to get back into the game after trailing by as many as nine.

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Two stats

— USC held Clemson to 10-28 from the field, but allowed it to make four of nine 3-pointers. The Tigers only were only two of three from the free throw line, however.

— The Gamecocks finished with 19 offensive rebounds, a stat Brownell called the key to the game.

Player of the Game

Chico Carter not only led all scorers, but made them count. In addition to hitting the game winner, he drilled a 3-pointer late in the first half to give the Gamecocks their largest lead.

Up Next

South Carolina plays Colorado State in the first round of the Charleston Classic Nov. 17 at 5 p.m. in TD Arena.

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