Carolina over Cavs: Gamecocks stun No. 9 Virginia in Charlottesville
A.J. Lawson’s momentum took him to the “G” in “VIRGINIA” along the baseline. That’s where he settled after another transition dunk — a ferocious right-hander — and flexed for a section of orange and blue-clad supporters to admire. He wasn’t show-boating as much he was making a statement.
South Carolina came to UVa’s John Paul Jones Arena — a long-established place of horrors for visitors — as double-digit underdogs. The Cavaliers had a top 10 ranking and a recent championship banner hanging from their rafters that explained the elite level of their program. The Gamecocks were two games removed from a 20-point loss to Houston.
Yet here USC was, owners of a second-half lead. So excuse Lawson while he took a second to gloat.
The Gamecocks controlled the majority of the game Sunday afternoon and earned a 70-59 upset of No. 9 Virginia.
“Beating Virginia at Virginia,” Frank Martin said, “it’s a great day for our basketball team.”
USC improved to 8-4. It’s now 3-0 in true road games for the first time since 1996-97. It has its first road win over a top 10 team since beating No. 8 Texas A&M in 2016.
Jair Bolden scored 22 points, Lawson added 14 and Justin Minaya had 12. The Gamecocks shot a season-best 55.1% from the field against the nation’s stingiest defense. They led for over 37 minutes.
A great day for Martin’s team, indeed.
“Credit to South Carolina,” said Virginia coach Tony Bennett. “They played very hard. They pressured into turnovers and they shot the ball well.”
South Carolina led by as many as 13 in the second half — 11 after Lawson’s steal and dunk at the 17:56 mark — before the Cavaliers stormed back. Showing traits of a perennial ACC title-contending program on its own turf, UVa went on a 16-3 run to tie the game at 45 with 11:09 left. John Paul Jones Arena, a place that hadn’t seen its team fall to a non-conference foe in three years, rocked.
It was here when Carolina really had to answer the obvious question: Would this be one of those nice-effort-in-a-loss kind of games like Michigan last year? Or would this be a finished deal and perhaps Martin’s biggest win since the 2017 NCAA Tournament?
The Gamecocks didn’t lay down. They hit seven straight shots, finishing with back-to-back Lawson buckets, to go back ahead 11 with 3:57 left.
Virginia responded with four straight points, but never mounted a serious enough threat. Jermaine Couisnard caught Bolden’s air-balled 3-pointer and laid it in with under two minutes to go. The lead then was nine and Virginia fans headed to the exits.
“It felt a little like Michigan,” Lawson said of the 89-78 loss to the then-No. 5 Wolverines on Dec. 8, 2018. “But this time we executed and we got the win. So it feels even more great. It’s a special moment because we got a win against a ranked team.”
South Carolina deserved this one from the jump. It scored more first-half points — leading to a 33-24 intermission advantage — than any previous UVa opponent. It forced 19 turnovers, UVa’s most this season. And, on several occasions, it silenced a crowd of 14,409.
Virginia’s home non-conference win streak is over at 22 games.
“I am unbelievably proud of our guys,” Martin said.
And one
South Carolina is the first opponent to reach 70 points in this building since Zion Williamson and Duke beat the Cavaliers, 81-71, on Feb. 9
Personal foul
Virginia made more free throws (17) than USC attempted (14).
Tip-in
This is USC’s first win over a reigning national champion since sweeping Kentucky in 1996-97.
Next
What: Stetson at South Carolina
When: 3 p.m. Dec. 30
Where: Colonial Life Arena
TV: SEC Network Plus
Radio: 107.5 The Game in Columbia area
Box score
SOUTH CAROLINA (8-4): Bolden 8-13 2-4 22, Minaya 5-9 1-1 12, Lawson 5-12 4-6 14, Kotsar 2-4 0-0 4, Couisnard 1-2 2-2 4, Bryant 4-6 1-1 10, Frink 0-0 0-0 0, Hannibal 2-2 0-0 4, Leveque 0-1 0-0 0, Moss 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-49 10-14 70.
VIRGINIA (9-2): Clark 2-7 4-4 9, Diakite 6-13 9-11 21, Key 2-4 3-5 8, Stattmann 2-3 0-0 6, Woldetensae 1-5 0-0 3, Huff 3-3 0-1 6, Morsell 2-6 1-1 6, Caffaro 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-41 17-22 59.
Halftime—South Carolina 33-24. 3-Point Goals—South Carolina 6-17 (Bolden 4-6, Bryant 1-2, Minaya 1-5, Couisnard 0-1, Lawson 0-3), Virginia 6-18 (Stattmann 2-3, Key 1-1, Clark 1-3, Morsell 1-4, Woldetensae 1-4, Diakite 0-3). Rebounds—South Carolina 23 (Minaya, Kotsar, Couisnard 4), Virginia 25 (Clark, Diakite, Key 5). Assists—South Carolina 10 (Minaya 4), Virginia 13 (Clark 7). Total Fouls—South Carolina 20, Virginia 16.
This story was originally published December 22, 2019 at 4:59 PM.
