Gamecocks again can’t finish, drop Senior Night vs. Georgia

J.J. Frazier ended South Carolina’s season last year.

He’s playing spoiler again.

Georgia’s junior sharpshooter scored 13 points in the final three minutes Thursday as the Bulldogs ruined USC’s Senior Night, 74-72. The Gamecocks dropped their fourth of six games, leaving what looked to be a sure thing in extremely precarious position.

The Gamecocks (23-7, 10-7 SEC) could have made Saturday’s game at Arkansas basically obsolete in their chances to nab a double-bye in the SEC tournament; even if they didn’t beat the Razorbacks, they could depend on one of two teams losing to still give them a top-four seed.

But they had to beat the Bulldogs to do that, and they didn’t. Whether it was Senior Night nerves (while Laimonas Chatkevicius and Mindaugas Kacinas played their usual games, Michael Carrera was a horrid 5-of-21 from the field and scored 13 points) or the same issues that have dogged them down the stretch, the Gamecocks lost another game that really could have come in handy when it comes to their postseason life.

“If you’re worthy of a top-four seed, you don’t lose at home. You just don’t,” coach Frank Martin said. “Especially at this time of year.”

Martin and his players didn’t want to talk NCAA tournament because they’re still in fine shape for it, and there are still chances to firm it up. But they’ll have to be cognizant of the appearance, especially if they can’t win at Arkansas or get a win in the SEC tournament – sneered at by the powers-that-be all year, USC is flirting with a multi-game losing streak before the most important Sunday of the season.

All of that’s in the future, though. The present was about figuring out how to fix a lot of problems with a short turnaround before a long road trip.

“(Kenny) Gaines and Frazier are just hard shot-makers,” Martin said. “Michael and Sindarius (Thornwell) spend the whole game playing at the rim and they don’t shoot free throws. I don’t know what to say.”

USC came out firing, taking an 8-2 lead with Kacinas supplying steady offense, but it quickly disappeared. The Gamecocks handled not getting calls in the paint by settling for 3-pointers which mostly missed, Carrera trying to get himself and the team started by firing away from the arc. He missed all five he took in the first half and the Bulldogs began to run.

“I thought I was open, and I been making 3s the whole year,” he said after finishing 1-of-10.

The Gamecocks’ weak transition defense yielded inside points, Gaines nearly unable to miss as he crashed into USC’s paint. Georgia didn’t really need Frazier as it built its early lead, although he naturally nailed a contested 3 when USC had cut the lead to two.

USC has its offense tailored around getting to the line and making free throws, and the calls weren’t coming. The Gamecocks aren’t a team that will out-strafe any opponent from the outside and the solution seemed simple – to have a chance, play to your strengths.

“It’s frustrating when you drive and you get hacked and you come down and they get a bump foul. We get chopped in the throat or something,” Thornwell said. “The biggest thing is to not put the game in the ref’s hand. But the ref don’t control us not making shots.”

Carrera didn’t stay quiet, though. He finally got a 3 to go after missing his first seven tries, then stole and slammed for a tie game. USC built the lead to 55-50, causing Georgia to burn its last timeout, but the Bulldogs came out of it on fire.

Two missed USC bunnies yielded yet another transition shot, this a 3-point dagger from Gaines to tie the game. That turned into an inside twisting bucket from freshman Mike Edwards, who ran around Chatkevicius like he wasn’t there.

The game bounced back and forth until Kacinas made two free throws for a 59-57 lead. From there, Frazier took over.

He ran inside for a high arching shot that dropped for the lead, which was followed by Sindarius Thornwell missing a shot. Yante Maten cleaned up a Frazier miss despite Chatkevicius being right there beside him, and then Thornwell’s drive into the lane was met with fierce resistance, a missed shot and no foul.

That turned into another transition, another split-second spot-up from Frazier and another 3, just like the one he smoked last year to end USC’s SEC tournament run. A tie game was out-of-reach within a few seconds.

“If Michael Carrera has a bad day on the glass … there’s not another guy on our team who’s going to come up with a loose ball,” Martin said. “We got to figure out a way to go on the road and get a win.”

TURNING POINT

Frazier took over when USC took the lead. The Gamecocks couldn’t get back to stop transition 3s and couldn’t man him up.

3 POINTS

Star of the game: Frazier. Many can’t wait to see him leave.

Play of the game: Frazier’s 3 from near Blossom Street was reminiscent of the 30-footer he canned at last year’s SEC tournament to send USC packing.

Stat of the game: The Gamecocks were out-rebounded 46-35. Georgia got 15 offensive rebounds and nine second-half points.

FROM THE BASELINE

It was so simple: All they had to do was win, and a top-four would have been nearly in hand. USC could have gotten it with 1) a win at Arkansas; 2) an LSU loss to Kentucky; or 3) a Vanderbilt loss to Texas A&M. All they had to do was win.

Now, if they beat Arkansas AND get an LSU or Vanderbilt loss, they still get a top-four. If they lose, they could be anywhere from fifth to seventh.

The Razorbacks are the best 3-point team in the SEC. The Gamecocks, who lead the league in opponents’ made and attempted 3s, gave up seven on Thursday.

Bubble-ing: Again, I think that 23^rd win got them in. But it certainly would not help USC’s cause to end the regular season with three straight losses, making the SEC tournament a must-win scenario.

Arkansas has what I’ve always felt is the hardest place to win in the league. And the Razorbacks are the SEC’s best 3-point team. Danger, Will Robinson …

UP NEXT

Who: South Carolina at Arkansas

When: 5 p.m. Saturday

Where: Bud Walton Arena, Fayetteville, Ark.

TV: SEC Network

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GEORGIA (16-12)

Maten 4-9 5-5 13, Mann 0-3 6-7 6, Gaines 6-17 4-5 20, Frazier 5-17 7-8 19, Ogbeide 2-3 1-2 5, Wilridge 0-0 0-0 0, Kessler 2-2 0-0 4, Geno 2-2 0-0 5, Edwards 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 22-55 23-27 74.

SOUTH CAROLINA (23-7)

Thornwell 7-17 1-2 16, Notice 1-7 0-0 3, Chatkevicius 3-11 2-2 8, Carrera 5-21 2-2 13, Kacinas 6-12 4-4 21, Stroman 0-0 1-2 1, Gregory 1-2 2-2 4, Dozier 1-2 0-0 3, Silva 1-1 1-2 3. Totals 25-73 13-16 72.

Halftime_Georgia 39-34. 3-Point Goals_Georgia 7-19 (Gaines 4-8, Frazier 2-8, Geno 1-1, Maten 0-1, Mann 0-1), South Carolina 9-26 (Kacinas 5-7, Dozier 1-1, Notice 1-4, Thornwell 1-4, Carrera 1-10). Fouled Out_None. Rebounds_Georgia 46 (Frazier 9), South Carolina 35 (Chatkevicius 7). Assists_Georgia 11 (Frazier 7), South Carolina 11 (Thornwell 7). Total Fouls_Georgia 18, South Carolina 20. Attendance_15,397.

This story was originally published March 3, 2016 at 9:02 PM with the headline "Gamecocks again can’t finish, drop Senior Night vs. Georgia."