Florida sinks South Carolina in Gamecocks’ SEC opener
The ovation was directed at an individual, but perhaps it stood for something more.
Less than seven minutes into South Carolina’s SEC opener with Florida on Tuesday, the buzzer sounded and the crowd roared. Maik Kotsar, who had just completed his second three-point play of the night, was getting a much-deserved breather. His early effort earned the approval of those in support of the home team.
Gamecock fans noticed their senior’s play — as well as the scoreboard. The USC team that previously took the Colonial Life Arena floor left it in overwhelming disappointment. But here it was eight days after Stetson bringing its fan base back in again. The lead was four. The shooting percentage was 70.
All Carolina had to do was keep it up.
It couldn’t.
Florida never trailed in the second half en route to an 81-68 win.
The Gamecocks dropped to 8-6 (0-1 SEC). The Gators improved to 10-4 (2-0).
“We played with a lot more spirit today,” said USC coach Frank Martin, “more consistent with how we try to do things. But we just got out-toughed.”
The Gamecocks, which trailed by as many as seven in first half, had possession down one around 13 minutes left when things got sloppy. A.J. Lawson’s forced alley-oop attempt to Keyshawn Bryant smacked the backboard and the Gators had the lead back out to eight three minutes later.
Florida, ranked sixth in the preseason by national polls, was smoothly operated by Andrew Nembhard. The Gators’ star point guard took command at crucial times. When Carolina cut the lead to three with 8:15 remaining, Nembhard responded with a perfectly placed dish for Keyontae Johnson, who finished at the rim.
A 66-60 Florida advantage grew to 69-60 after Nembhard drilled a 3-pointer from beyond the left wing. When he swished from the same spot at the 2-minute mark, he put UF up nine and all but sealed the game.
Nembhard finished with 21 points and 10 assists, getting the better of his matchup with Lawson, a fellow Canadian and NBA prospect.
Lawson — with 12 points — was one of four Gamecocks in double figures. But the sophomore went 3 of 15 from the field and had four turnovers.
Kotsar (18 points, 10 rebounds) paced with Carolina with a double-double. The Gamecocks, despite making seven of their first 10 shots, finished below 40% from the field.
And one
Trae Hannibal, left on the bench for the majority of the first half, again made his case to be a rotation player. The freshman point guard score four points in two minutes, including a transition finish after intercepting an in-bounds pass. The layup cut the UF lead to five. Hannibal didn’t play in the second half.
Personal foul
Keyshawn Bryant aside, South Carolina’s been in good health the majority of this season. That changed a bit Tuesday when it was announced before the game that Jermaine Couisnard was out with a back strain. USC’s sixth man suffered the injury last week in practice. The redshirt freshman is fourth on the team in scoring (8.5 points per game) and fifth in minutes (21.8).
Tip-in
South Carolina, one of the nation’s worst free throw shooting teams, made its first 10 from the stripe Tuesday — and was 13 of 14 at halftime. The Gamecocks have gone eight full games this season without making 13 FTs.
Box score: Florida 81, South Carolina 68
FLORIDA (10-4): Nembhard 8-14 2-2 21, Johnson 8-13 3-4 19, Lewis 4-9 6-6 15, Locke 2-7 0-0 6, Blackshear 2-7 7-10 11, Payne 1-4 1-3 3, Bassett 2-3 0-0 4, Glover 1-2 0-0 2, Mann 0-1 0-0 0, Jitoboh 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-60 19-25 81.
SOUTH CAROLINA (8-6): Kotsar 7-12 4-4 18, Bryant 5-10 4-5 14, Bolden 4-14 3-4 12, Lawson 3-15 3-5 12, Minaya 1-3 2-4 4, Moss 1-1 0-0 2, Frink 0-3 0-0 0, McCreary 0-0 2-2 2, Leveque 0-0 0-0 0, Hannibal 2-2 0-0 4. Totals 23-60 18-24 68.
Halftime—Florida 40-37. 3-Point Goals—Florida 6-16 (Nembhard 3-5, Locke 2-3, Lewis 1-3, Glover 0-1, Mann 0-1, Johnson 0-3), South Carolina 4-15 (Lawson 3-8, Bolden 1-5, Bryant 0-1, Minaya 0-1). Rebounds—Florida 39 (Lewis, Payne 9), South Carolina 28 (Kotsar 10). Assists—Florida 13 (Nembhard 10), South Carolina 11 (Bryant, Lawson 3). Total Fouls—Florida 19, South Carolina 21. A—10,651 (18,000).
NEXT
What: South Carolina at Tennessee
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: Knoxville, Tennessee
TV: SEC Network
Radio: 107.5 The Game in Columbia area
This story was originally published January 7, 2020 at 9:01 PM.
