Three straight: South Carolina rides balance, strong defense to rout of Missouri

The completion of South Carolina’s second three-game win streak of the season felt a lot like the first one.

A combination of superior defense and balanced offense led the Gamecocks to a 76-54 rout of Missouri on Saturday at Colonial Life Arena. It was the conclusion to a series of performances that once again has this USC team looking capable of a run to the postseason.

You might recall another time this happened this season. Carolina on Nov. 15 rolled Cleveland State by 27 to get the year off to a 3-0 start with a trio of dominant showings. In between then and Saturday, you’ve seen the roller coaster of extreme highs — see Kentucky, Virginia, Arkansas — and lows — see Stetson, Boston University.

But perhaps now Frank Martin’s bunch has found its consistent, happy place.

The Gamecocks (13-8, 5-3 SEC) have won five of six, with the latest being a statement of sorts at February’s beginning.

“We got guys that got pride,” Martin said, “and I think as we’ve gone through the season, it’s brought them closer together. And it’s allowing us to play pretty good right now.”

Missouri (10-11, 2-6) entered as a six-point underdog and its chances lessened before tip-off when it became known starters Jermiah Tilmon and Mark Smith were out with injuries. But USC, a team prone to play down to its competition, didn’t give Mizzou much of a chance.

The Gamecocks ran out to a 21-8 lead and didn’t look back. Maik Kotsar, with a season-high 21 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks, led three players in double figures, and the Tigers were held to 33% shooting.

“Maik played the best game he’s played in a uniform here,” Martin said of his senior forward. “Maik’s energy, his toughness, his aggressive was the best I’ve ever seen him play with.”

South Carolina hasn’t trailed since the 17:20 mark of the first half of last Saturday’s Vanderbilt win.

Missouri, down by as many as 16 in the first half, got within nine at the 10:54 mark of the closing period. But the Tigers, who roared back from 20 down to beat Georgia on Tuesday, were quickly put away with a 9-0 Carolina run.

“We knew they were going to be aggressive and go on runs,” Kotsar said, “but thanks to us being locked in on defense, the crowd being there, we were able to stop the run and go on a run ourselves.”

It was all fun and games from there. Kotsar got a standing ovation when he exited the game with 4:40 to play. A minute later, Jermaine Couisnard connected with A.J. Lawson for a long alley-oop, sending 14,678 at Colonial Life Arena into a frenzy. In mop-up time, freshman walk-on Mike Green banked in a 3-pointer, causing the Gamecock bench to explode.

“It was a great moment for us,” Couisnard said. “Everybody was happy.”

Couisnard had 15 points and six assists. Lawson had 13 and seven rebounds. South Carolina shot better than 50% from the field for a third straight game.

And one

South Carolina took more free throws (32-15) than its opponent for the first time since Dec. 1 against George Washington, a span of 13 games.

Personal foul

The Gamecocks dealt with a couple injury scares. Keyshawn Bryant and Jalyn McCreary spent chunks of time on the exercise bike while Justin Minaya played the second half with a wrap on his shooting hand after suffering an injury in the first.

Martin said Bryant and McCreary are dealing with knee injuries — lingering issues from before Saturday’s tip-off — and Minaya had to have his thumb popped back into place.

“I’m sure he’s going to have an MRI and the whole thing tomorrow,” Martin said of Minaya. “He got through the second half. So I hope the news is OK on that one.”

Tip-in

Before the first game played at Colonial Life Arena since Kobe Bryant’s tragic death, a moment of silence was observed for Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the seven others who died in a helicopter crash last Sunday in California.

South Carolina vs. Missouri basketball box score

MISSOURI (10-11): D.Smith 2-10 5-6 9, Pickett 3-8 2-2 8, Nikko 3-7 2-2 8, Mi.Smith 1-7 0-0 2, Watson 1-4 0-0 3, Pinson 3-11 3-4 12, Jackson 4-7 0-1 8, Brown 0-2 0-0 0, Braun 2-2 0-0 4, Yerkes 0-0 0-0 0, Okongo 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-58 12-15 54.

SOUTH CAROLINA (13-8): Lawson 5-9 0-0 13, Minaya 1-4 3-6 6, Couisnard 6-12 3-4 15, Kotsar 7-8 7-10 21, Bolden 2-6 0-0 5, Moss 2-4 0-0 6, Hannibal 0-1 3-4 3, Bryant 0-2 2-4 2, Frink 0-1 0-0 0, Leveque 1-1 0-2 2, McCreary 0-0 0-2 0, Anderson 0-0 0-0 0, Green 1-1 0-0 3, Nelson 0-0 0-0 0, Henry 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-49 18-32 76.

Halftime—South Carolina 39-26. 3-Point Goals—Missouri 4-19 (Pinson 3-4, Watson 1-3, Brown 0-1, Jackson 0-3, D.Smith 0-4, Mi.Smith 0-4), South Carolina 8-22 (Lawson 3-6, Moss 2-3, Green 1-1, Minaya 1-4, Bolden 1-5, Bryant 0-1, Couisnard 0-2). Rebounds—Missouri 29 (Pickett 8), South Carolina 34 (Kotsar 11). Assists—Missouri 9 (D.Smith 3), South Carolina 14 (Couisnard 6). Total Fouls—Missouri 21, South Carolina 17. A—14,678 (18,000).

NEXT

What: South Carolina at Ole Miss

When: 7 p.m. Wednesday

Where: Oxford, Mississippi

TV: SEC Network

Radio: 107.5 The Game in Columbia area

This story was originally published February 1, 2020 at 5:28 PM.