Gamecocks race past Western Carolina

South Carolina knew what Western Carolina could do, so it did the Catamounts one better.

The Gamecocks streaked past Western 76-53 on Monday to improve to 7-0, stroking eight 3-pointers – five in the second half – to fuel the surge. The Catamounts live and die by the deep ball, averaging over 24 attempts per game and shooting 32 on Monday, but they only made 11 and had 20 turnovers.

Western (2-4) hadn’t allowed an opponent to shoot over 25 percent from 3 all year. USC hit 8-of-18 for 44.4 percent, not by any sort of halftime adjustment – by simply playing its game.

“We just didn’t turn it over,” USC coach Frank Martin said. “We actually passed it to the guy that had the same color jersey as us.”

“We were excited to come out in the second half, because we didn’t have a good first half,” said Michael Carrera, who scored 16 with three 3s. “We wanted to do what we do, play South Carolina basketball. That’s what we did.”

The Catamounts threw it up from anywhere and took an early lead, only to see the shots freeze and the Gamecocks willing to run with them. The final 10 minutes of the first half was a turnover-fest, but also a 19-0 USC run. SEC Player of the Week Mindaugas Kacinas splashed a 3 (part of a game-high 20 points) to end the period and USC held a nine-point lead.

Martin, who had seen his team come back from a Paradise Jam championship to sluggishly beat Lipscomb, knew the Gamecocks weren’t at their bes, but were far from their worst. His halftime message was to stay in control.

They listened.

Passes inside weren’t tipped away and defense began to stick. Sindarius Thornwell hit two 3s and Carrera popped another as USC took control. Carrera and Kacinas led the way, while freshman Chris Silva continued to impact, finishing a point short of a double-double.

“He’s like a wild buck out there,” Martin said. “We’re trying to harness him right now. But when he plays with so much enthusiasm, he makes good things happen.”

TURNING POINT

Kacinas saved a rebound while on his knees at midcourt and threw to Marcus Stroman. Stroman fed Carrera for a wide-open jam, making it 42-30 and responding to a 10-0 Catamounts run.

3 POINTS

Mindaugas Kacinas: The senior kept doing what he’s been doing, calmly overcoming the Catamounts’ windmilling arms to finish inside – and shoot 3s if he had to. His 20 and 11 was his fifth career double-double.

Play of the game: Torrion Brummitt intentionally fouled Carrera going up for a dunk. While Carrera had fists raised as they fell to the floor, tempers cooled, Carrera sunk his free throws and the Gamecocks put the Catamounts to bed.

Stat of the game: USC had 13 turnovers in the first half. It had six in the second. The Gamecocks stretched a nine-point lead to 23 when it held onto the ball.

FROM THE BASELINE

Chilly Chatkevicius: Martin knew early that Laimonas Chatkevicius was off his game. When he started playing a “one-man zone” and Western’s center hit a 3-pointer, he knew Chatkevicius was going to have a very sub-par night compared to his start to the season.

McKie minutes: Justin McKie continues to get into games and do something to stay in them. While McKie had one point on Monday, he also had four assists.

UP NEXT

Who: South Carolina vs. USF

When: 4 p.m. Saturday

Where: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia

TV: SEC Network

This story was originally published November 30, 2015 at 8:47 PM.