Gamecocks smother Texas A&M to open SEC play with victory
Entering Wednesday night, the South Carolina men’s basketball team had only played half the games visiting Texas A&M has played this season. Due to COVID-19 regulations, the Gamecocks still can’t field a complete lineup.
Even still, veteran Gamecocks like Justin Minaya and Seventh Woods said in recent days that the team is making no excuses. They meant it.
Opening Southeastern Conference play after playing just one game in a month, Frank Martin’s basketball team played a cleaner brand of basketball, shooting 42% en route to a 78-54 defeat of the Aggies.
“It’s our second game back from a long, long time, so I feel like the more we play, the more we’re going to gel,” junior guard A.J. Lawson said. “And we’ve been practicing real well I feel like, and we’ve been building our chemistry all over again. And today we showed that, showed what we’re capable of, and I still think we can do more.”
3 Observations from USC-Texas A&M
1. Career high for Lawson
To navigate this challenging stretch of the season, with the Gamecocks still diminished due to COVID-19, USC needs its top playmakers to be at their best.
Through the last two games, Lawson has been more than up to the task. On Saturday, the Gamecocks rode Lawson’s 25 points in their topsy-turvy win over Florida A&M.
Against tougher competition in the form of the Aggies, Lawson elevated his game to even greater heights, scoring a career-high 30 points to go along with five rebounds and two assists. Lawson’s previous career high was 28 points.
“I tell him we need everything he brings,” said fellow guard Jermaine Couisnard, who scored 15 points on game-high five 3-pointers. “He brings energy. He never gets down on himself. I was just telling him, ‘Your opportunity is going to come. ... Just build your confidence. Keep building.’ I’m happy for him.”
However, with 5:43 left in the game, Lawson appeared to suffer a leg injury, hopping off the court on one foot. He took a seat on the sideline with a towel wrapped around his shoulders, and he did not return to the game.
Lawson brushed off the injury after the game, saying his ankle felt fine. Martin said he’s proud of the way Lawson has developed as a player since he enrolled early as a freshman two seasons ago.
“He grew up tremendously,” Martin said. “He’s older. He’s stronger. He’s worked on his game. He’s worked on finishing at the rim. He’s defending a lot better.”
2. McCreary impressive in return
Throughout the offseason, Martin frequently mentioned the improvements 6-foot-8, 235-pound forward Jayln McCreary made to his game, going so far as to predict a breakout season for the sophomore.
Unfortunately for McCreary, the forward suffered a concussion just before the season and didn’t practice the week before the team’s season opener. Then, after the Gamecocks resumed play from their COVID-19 pause, McCreary was one of the handful of players not cleared to play.
McCreary finally returned to action Wednesday night and provided an immediate jolt to the frontcourt.
McCreary checked in off the bench four minutes into the first half. Three minutes later, he blocked an Aggies shot, then dunked the ball on the other end as the Gamecocks built an early lead.
In just his first eight minutes on the court, McCreary scored six points, tallied six rebounds and added a block and an assist.
“Jalyn, I feel so bad for the kid because he had taken a huge step forward,” Martin said after the game. “When we were having our workouts in September, he was playing really, really well and playing with a lot of aggression and confidence.
“But now that he got two full days of practice, he competed at a high level. And that’s what he does for us. He brings unbelievable energy. He brings instincts … He brings athleticism and toughness and gives us someone other than Justin that can pursue the offensive glass and go get basketballs that are outside their area.”
3. Gamecocks take advantage of second chances
Martin said this week that the Aggies play particularly tough inside, relying on leading scorer Emanuel Miller to drive the ball. Miller still scored his points Wednesday, putting up 28. But the Gamecocks frontcourt put together a much more complete effort than the one it put up Saturday.
In particular, the Gamecocks controlled the offensive boards, pulling down 17 offensive rebounds that led to 20 second-chance points. USC out-rebounded Texas A&M, 45-31.
Next game
Who: South Carolina (3-2) at Mississippi (6-3)
Where: Oxford, Miss.
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Watch: SEC Network
Box score: South Carolina 78, Texas A&M 54
TEXAS A&M (6-2): Marfo 0-0 0-0 0, Miller 10-15 8-9 28, Gordon 1-10 1-2 3, Jackson 4-10 2-2 13, Robinson 2-5 0-0 6, Chandler 0-5 2-2 2, Flagg 0-1 0-0 0, Hefner 0-1 0-0 0, Diarra 0-3 0-0 0, Aku 0-0 1-2 1, Bradford 0-0 0-0 0, Walker 0-0 0-0 0, McGhee 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 17-50 15-19 54.
SOUTH CAROLINA (2-2): Minaya 2-6 0-0 6, Leveque 4-5 2-3 10, Couisnard 5-15 0-2 15, Lawson 10-22 7-8 30, Woods 1-5 0-0 2, Hannibal 2-7 1-2 5, McCreary 3-4 0-0 6, Anderson 2-3 0-0 4, Benson 0-2 0-0 0, Cooper 0-0 0-0 0, Green 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-69 10-15 78.
Halftime—South Carolina 33-27. 3-Point Goals—Texas A&M 5-25 (Jackson 3-7, Robinson 2-5, Diarra 0-1, Flagg 0-1, Hefner 0-1, Chandler 0-4, Gordon 0-6), South Carolina 10-30 (Couisnard 5-11, Lawson 3-9, Minaya 2-5, Anderson 0-1, Benson 0-1, Hannibal 0-1, Woods 0-2). Rebounds—Texas A&M 25 (Miller 6), South Carolina 44 (McCreary 9). Assists—Texas A&M 11 (Jackson 5), South Carolina 17 (Minaya 5). Total Fouls—Texas A&M 19, South Carolina 16.
This story was originally published January 6, 2021 at 11:09 PM.
