USC MBB bounces back with win over Virginia Tech. Here’s what we learned
The Gamecocks desperately needed a win over a Power Five opponent, and Wednesday’s tournament consolation game provided that opportunity.
South Carolina (4-3) avoided back-to-back losses by defeating Virginia Tech 70-60 in the Fort Myers Tipoff at Suncoast Credit Union Arena.
A strong first half set the tone, with the Gamecocks taking an eight-point lead into the break. The Hokies (3-4) made a run in the second half, but USC held on to win.
“It was pretty consistently good defense throughout the game; I was really happy about that,” USC head coach Lamont Paris said in a postgame radio interview with 107.5 FM. “When you’re away from home, you have to be able to play reasonable, at least, defense to give yourself a chance to win. We were really locked in to what we wanted to do. Our energy was high.”
Sophomore Collin Murray-Boyles filled the stat sheet, leading all scorers with 16 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Off the bench, fellow sophomore Morris Ugusuk caught fire from beyond the arc, draining four 3-pointers en route to 12 points, and junior Zach Davis also added 12 points, seven rebounds and three assists. USC’s bench scored a season-high 32 points.
This marks the fifth neutral-court meeting between the two programs, with USC winning last year’s matchup 79-77 in Charlotte.
Next, South Carolina heads to Massachusetts to face Boston College in the SEC/ACC Challenge.
Here are three key takeaways from USC’s bounce-back win Wednesday:
Raining 3s
After making just four 3-pointers in Monday’s 75-66 loss to Xavier in the Fort Myers Tipoff, the Gamecocks found their stroke, draining six in the first half alone against Virginia Tech.
The increase in volume seemed to be intentional. USC matched its 17 total attempts from Monday by halftime, partly due to the Hokies clogging the paint and forcing outside shots. USC attempted 32 3-pointers overall.
“Out of those 32 ... 25 at minimum were phenomenal looks,” Paris said, referencing not having a choice but take those shots. “Couple that with guys that are in the flow. They’re going to take a couple of those, but that’s just the way that (Virginia Tech has) played us. That was what’s available.”
On their opening score, four Gamecocks spread the perimeter while Murray-Boyles posted up inside, freeing senior transfer Jamarii Thomas for an early 3-pointer. Ugusuk was a big contributor, going 3-of-5 from beyond the arc in the first half. He hit 3-pointers in key moments, including a shot to end a Hokies run midway through the second half.
Even broken plays seemed to work in South Carolina’s favor. On one possession, USC’s Jordan Butler slipped and fumbled the ball, only to recover and hit a 3-pointer. Shots like that gave the first half a vibe that the 3s were destined to go up. The Gamecocks made 11 3-pointers total.
Another good first half
South Carolina has gotten off to better starts in the last couple games. USC started 6-of-12 (50%) from the field Wednesday and finished shooting 46.4% before intermission.
The defense was one of the main sources of the good start for the Gamecocks. USC held Virginia Tech to 1 of 12 shooting during a seven-minute stretch and forced two separate scoreless runs of three-plus minutes. That defensive dominance led to an 8-0 run and an early 18-9 lead.
“I thought we were really locked into what we wanted to try to get accomplished on the defensive side, and I think that allowed us to prevail,” Paris said in a postgame interview with FS1.
The Gamecocks couldn’t fully capitalize, however. They endured a three-minute scoreless stretch of their own, echoing the Xavier game, where head coach Lamont Paris lamented not building a bigger halftime cushion. Despite their defensive success, the Gamecocks should’ve easily led by double-digits at intermission.
Finish strong or falter
A hot start only matters if you finish the job. USC’s first-half momentum evaporated in the second, as Virginia Tech clawed back with an 8-0 run to cut the lead to three with 12 minutes left.
It always felt like the Hokies were a couple shots away from taking control of the game, especially when the Gamecocks’ offense sputtered. A two-minute scoring drought during that stretch underscored USC’s struggles to close with authority.
Strong starts are promising, but the Gamecocks need to develop a killer instinct to seal the deal.
Next four USC MBB games
- Dec. 3 SEC/ACC Challenge at Boston College, 7 p.m. (ACC Network)
- Dec. 7 vs. East Carolina, 2 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)
- Dec. 14 vs. USC Upstate, 2 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)
- Dec. 17 vs. Clemson, 7 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)
This story was originally published November 27, 2024 at 8:05 PM.
