Title hopes slip away: Tennessee tops South Carolina to win SEC regular season
It was a 10-point Tennessee lead with five minutes to go. Then a six-point lead with three minutes to play. Then a three-point lead with just 50 seconds left.
The No. 4 Volunteers kept No. 17 South Carolina (24-6, 12-5 SEC) at an arm’s length the entire game Wednesday and never trailed. Two late USC fouls gave Tennessee the separation back, much to the dismay of the disappointed Colonial Life Arena crowd.
“Refs, you suck!” chants poured down during the final minute of the game.
South Carolina’s chance at a regular season conference title was gone, and Tennessee (24-6, 14-3 SEC) took its long-awaited revenge against the Gamecocks in the 66-59 win Wednesday night.
The orange and white fans in attendance screamed the infamous “Rocky Top” lyrics while the South Carolina’s band played the university alma mater for the final time this season inside the home arena.
“It was an unbelievable college basketball game,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said. “Two teams I thought just played their hearts out.”
Tennessee’s hot shot
South Carolina stayed within two possessions for nearly the entire first half Wednesday. Despite the Gamecocks playing well, the Vols’ offense nearly sank every contested shot.
If there was even the slightest open look, Tennessee went for it and made the shot.
Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht and Jonas Aidoo were especially powerful in the Vols’ success. The pair scored a combined 22 points in the first half to lead all scorers. If USC tied the game, Knecht nailed a triple to put the Gamecocks back down a score.
“We didn’t perform incredibly well in terms of making some shots actually go in,” USC head coach Lamont Paris said. “But our effort was certainly there and proud of the guys.”
Tennessee excelled at baseline baskets, too, creating an entirely different offensive threat USC hasn’t seen much of. Once again, it benefited Knecht.
The Vols’ star finished the game leading all scorers with 26 points, with Aidoo at 14 points and Zakai Zeigler picking up the third double-digit game (13 points) for Tennessee. South Carolina had three players also score in double figures: Meechie Johnson (18), Collin Murray-Boyles and Ta’Lon Cooper (11).
Fouling the wrong team
If there’s a program USC can’t allow too many personal fouls against, it’s Tennessee. It’s like twisting the dagger during the game the Gamecocks desperately wanted to win.
Regardless of how small or egregious the fouls were, South Carolina had 17 fouls called against them. Tennessee shot 86% from the free throw line and earned 19 points there.
Three Vols players were perfect from the line, too: Knecht, Aidoo and Josiah-Jordan James.
It didn’t help that USC didn’t shoot a single free throw in the first half. The Gamecocks got their first chance at the charity line with 13:40 left in the second half, and finished the game with just five made free throws.
One final showdown
With Tennessee’s win, the Vols have clinched the conference regular season title. USC is two games out of first place with one game to go.
The Gamecocks travel to Mississippi State for their final game of the season Saturday for a fight to get that much-needed Top 4 seed and a double-bye for next weekend’s SEC Tournament. If Kentucky defeats Vanderbilt later Wednesday, USC needs to defeat Mississippi State or have Tennessee beat the Wildcats on Saturday in order to clinch a Top 4 seed.
“That was a hard one,” Paris said, “particularly with the way it ended. And you think about the ramifications of that when you’re in a race like this ... So we’ll move forward. They’re young, they’re resilient. And so we’ll get back to it and just prepare for what’s next for us.”
Other notable stats
For its postseason resume, South Carolina is 4-4 against Quad 1 opponents heading into the final game of the regular season.
Murray-Boyles earned his second double-double of the season, scoring 11 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. He was the only player to have double-figure rebounds.
- It’s the third time USC has had every player who played score at least one point during SEC play this year. Other games were at Arkansas on Jan. 20 and against Ole Miss on Feb. 6.
- Knecht’s 26 points advance his double figures point streak to 16 games, dating back to Jan. 10 against Mississippi State.
Next USC games
- Saturday at Mississippi State, 2:30 p.m. (SEC Network)
- March 13-17 at SEC tournament (various channels)
This story was originally published March 6, 2024 at 9:01 PM.
