South Carolina’s road magic ends in close loss at Tennessee
A break in game action gave the spotlight to the host at Thompson-Boling Arena. A hype man dressed in orange was about to lead a “V-O-L-S” chant across four sections of this venue, but he didn’t want Tennessee fans to do it lightly.
“It’s SEC playing time,” he screamed into the microphone. “I need everybody on their feet. Vol Nation, if you’re sitting down, please stand up!”
Spectators eventually acted accordingly, rising from their seats and tried giving extra life to a chant that’s probably done every time the Volunteers play basketball.
South Carolina was in town Saturday. And by the time “V-O-L-S” echoed throughout, the Gamecocks seemed comfortable, seated in their own circle around Frank Martin and holding on to a second half lead.
This scene — away from the friendly confines of Colonial Life Arena — has seemed to suit USC just fine recently. December wins at UMass, Clemson and Virginia made the Gamecocks dangerous when they came to UT.
If only they could finish this one.
South Carolina’s road winning streak is over after the Gamecocks fell to the Vols, 56-55.
USC’s final chance ended when A.J. Lawson was called for a charging foul with 1.4 seconds left. The sophomore guard, rushing up the floor after grabbing a rebound, bowled over UT’s John Fulkerson just inside the free throw line.
“That’s more a play where you give their guy credit rather than our guy fault,” Martin said. “Fulkerson made a heckuva play there, getting in front of the ball and taking that charge.”
Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said if Fulkerson didn’t step in, Lawson “probably would have dunked the ball.’
Though this was an afternoon when the easiest of shots were hard to make for the visitors.
Carolina (8-7, 0-2 SEC) shot 32.8% from the floor, missed nine of 22 free throws, missed one dunk and 17 of 27 layups, according to StatBroadcast.
The Gamecocks, who got 17 points from Maik Kotsar and 15 from Jermaine Couisnard, went from being up eight to down seven in a span of 6:24 in the second half. The stretch came with 11 consecutive missed field goals, plenty on good looks.
“When you play Tennessee, you’re not going to get too many opportunities on offense,” Martin said. “So when you get them, you got to capitalize. ... We had opportunities to score like five feet and in. I get it, you’re not going to go 100 percent on those shots. But you can’t go 0-for, either.”
Tennessee (10-5, 2-1) was held to 25.9% shooting, but it never trailed over the final 10:21.
Twice USC had golden chances to tie things at 52, but Couisnard missed two free throws and Lawson missed a dunk on the next possession.
“Obviously it’s frustrating,” Kotsar said, “but it happens during the game. And we just got to be over it and we got to fight through it and we got to make sure you get stops on the defensive end if the ball doesn’t go in for you, and build up your confidence on the defensive end.“
South Carolina held the Vols to 11 points below their season average, had 19 takeaways and turned Jordan Bowden, UT’s most experienced guard, into a non-factor (see six points on 1 of 17 shooting). Defense is where the Gamecocks improved from the disappointments against Stetson and Florida.
The struggles only remained on the offensive end.
The Gamecocks committed 19 turnovers and had 11 shots blocked. Lawson was held to four points, and went 0 of 7 from the field.
The sophomore’s final drive — though it failed — is the play Martin wanted after Bowden’s air-balled heave fell to Lawson’s hands with 6.6 seconds left.
“I told him,” Martin said, “I said, ‘You’re going to have time for about five dribbles and a shot.’ And A.J., he went.”
And one
Couisnard returned after missing the Florida loss with a back injury. Back in his sixth man role, the versatile guard hit early threes to help USC recover from a 7-0 deficit. Couisnard finished by scoring six of Carolina’s final 11 points.
Personal foul
Starting guards Jair Bolden and Lawson were a combined 0 of 12 from the field with six points.
Tip-in
After a flash of greatness at the end of Tuesday’s first half — but never returning again in the Florida loss — Trae Hannibal played early and often against the Vols. The freshman guard finished with five points in 13 minutes.
Tennessee South Carolina box score
SOUTH CAROLINA (8-7): Minaya 0-4 0-0 0, Kotsar 7-11 3-5 17, Lawson 0-7 4-4 4, Bryant 4-12 0-3 8, Couisnard 6-17 1-4 15, Moss 1-1 0-0 2, Hannibal 1-3 3-4 5, Bolden 0-5 2-2 2, Leveque 0-0 0-0 0, McCreary 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 20-61 13-22 55.
TENNESSEE (10-5): Fulkerson 5-7 5-5 15, Bowden 1-17 3-4 6, Pons 0-7 4-6 4, James 4-7 0-0 10, Vescovi 2-6 7-8 13, Johnson 0-5 1-2 1, Nkamhoua 1-2 0-1 2, Pember 1-2 2-2 5, Gaines 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 14-54 22-28 56.
Halftime—South Carolina 26-25. 3-Point Goals—South Carolina 2-13 (Couisnard 2-7, Bolden 0-1, Bryant 0-1, Lawson 0-2, Minaya 0-2), Tennessee 6-31 (James 2-2, Vescovi 2-6, Pember 1-1, Bowden 1-12, Gaines 0-1, Johnson 0-4, Pons 0-5). Fouled Out—James. Rebounds—South Carolina 38 (Minaya 10), Tennessee 36 (Fulkerson 10). Assists—South Carolina 9 (Lawson, Bryant, Couisnard, Moss 2), Tennessee 10 (Vescovi, Johnson 3). Total Fouls—South Carolina 29, Tennessee 22. A—19,603 (21,678).
NEXT
What: Kentucky at South Carolina
When: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Colonial Life Arena
TV: SEC Network
This story was originally published January 11, 2020 at 3:19 PM.
