Gamecocks win final round against Crimson Tide
Frank Martin often mentions boxing when describing his team and the attitude it needs to have.
South Carolina went all 15 rounds on Saturday.
The Gamecocks beat Alabama 78-64 in a prizefight featuring 49 fouls and far more seconds spent on the free-throw line than the rest of the floor.
It was haymaker after body shot, jab after overhand right. USC staggered out after it placed four players off the SEC’s best team at avoiding whistles on the bench.
“That’s old-time basketball there,” Martin said. “That’s two teams fighting tooth and nail and not going to give anything easy.”
“We got to go back and analyze all 30 of our fouls,” the Tide’s Avery Johnson said. “That’s a pretty high number, especially for a team that doesn’t foul much.”
USC (19-2, 6-2 SEC) is at its best when attacking the rim and rebounding. That was the plan after the Gamecocks had been softer than left-out butter in a loss at Alabama on Jan. 13, the game that broke USC’s 15-game winning streak. The Gamecocks were relentless at driving the lane against the Tide’s long, physical athletes and were rewarded with fouls, but the free throws cost far too much.
The Gamecocks ended 28-of-46 from the line. USC made its last seven – all courtesy of Michael Carrera, who again led the team with 20 points and 11 boards – but the ones before that …
“I don’t usually make guys run for free throws, but I might have to start doing that,” Martin said. He warned that free throws were going to cost the Gamecocks some day after they beat Mississippi State earlier this week, and after Alabama’s Retin Obasohan returned from four fouls for the final 10 minutes, it appeared Saturday might be the day.
Obasohan scored 16 straight Crimson Tide points as Alabama (11-9, 2-6) roared back from a 15-point deficit, but USC had just enough to handle it. Again it was Carrera, splashing a rafter-scraping 3-pointer to make the lead nine points, and then converting free throws when Obasohan fouled out on a technical.
“We know that we played really bad at Alabama. We were prepared,” Carrera said. “We knew what was coming and I think we handled it really well.”
The Gamecocks had 50 rebounds, 30 defensive, and received a boost from a re-worked lineup. Chris Silva responded to his first career start with 12 points, six rebounds and three blocks while Laimonas Chatkevicius, benched for Silva, took over late with eight points and four boards in 11 minutes.
Through it all was Carrera, worming inside Alabama heads and firing up the crowd with a stare-down here and a swished 3 there. The Gamecocks matched their SEC-win high under Martin and the program’s high since 2009-10.
Sindarius Thornwell had 14 points and seven rebounds. Musing on the victory, he made it simple.
“We got back to doing things the right way.”
NOTE: Junior guard Justin McKie did not play due to illness.
TURNING POINT
Carrera splashed a 3 after Obasohan threatened to lead an Alabama comeback, then leaped high for a caromed ball, corralling it and throwing it off a Tide player to keep possession. USC finished it from the line.
3 POINTS
Star of the game: Carrera again led the team in points, rebounds and clutch plays. He swished seven straight free throws after USC played rim-smack for most of the game.
Play of the game: Chatkevicius scored the last of his points on a vicious dunk. The normally timid center blew past his man and one-arm jammed it for what may have been the first back-to-back dunks of his career.
Stat of the game: 28-for-46 from the line. Thornwell banked in a 3 to end the first half, placing the ball in the white square. Yet hardly anyone else knew to use it on a free shot.
FROM THE BASELINE
Packed: The seventh sellout crowd at Colonial Life Arena did its job, screaming for Obasohan to miss two free throws in a crucial stretch. Martin credited the fans for hollering on the first one, which affected the second one.
Then again, all of them did get a free Chick-fil-A sandwich when Obasohan missed his second.
So close: The next four games is the toughest stretch of USC’s season. But the Gamecocks have been playing tough lately, and if they can go .500 or better, their resume is ready to be mailed.
UP NEXT
Who: South Carolina at Georgia
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Stegeman Coliseum, Athens, Ga.
TV: ESPNU
Follow on Twitter at @DCTheState
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ALABAMA (11-9)
Norris 4-12 0-0 11, Edwards 2-8 3-4 7, Taylor 0-1 0-0 0, Hale 5-17 4-4 16, Obasohan 6-10 10-13 23, Schaffer 0-0 0-0 0, Kessens 1-4 1-2 3, Coleman 0-5 0-0 0, Austin 0-0 0-0 0, Clark 0-0 0-0 0, Hall 2-3 0-2 4. Totals 20-60 18-25 64.
SOUTH CAROLINA (19-2)
Thornwell 4-9 4-4 14, Dozier 3-9 1-3 7, Carrera 3-12 12-14 20, Kacinas 3-9 1-3 8, Silva 4-4 4-6 12, Stroman 0-4 1-2 1, Doby 0-2 0-0 0, Notice 2-6 2-6 7, Chatkevicius 3-5 2-4 8, Cobb 0-0 1-4 1. Totals 22-60 28-46 78.
Halftime_South Carolina 35-26. 3-Point Goals_Alabama 6-24 (Norris 3-7, Hale 2-9, Obasohan 1-2, Coleman 0-2, Edwards 0-4), South Carolina 6-19 (Thornwell 2-3, Carrera 2-5, Notice 1-3, Kacinas 1-5, Chatkevicius 0-1, Dozier 0-2). Fouled Out_Hall, Kessens, Obasohan, Taylor. Rebounds_Alabama 41 (Hall, Kessens, Norris, Obasohan 6), South Carolina 50 (Carrera 11). Assists_Alabama 12 (Coleman, Obasohan 4), South Carolina 10 (Carrera, Kacinas 3). Total Fouls_Alabama 30, South Carolina 19. Technical_Obasohan. Attendance_18,000.
This story was originally published January 30, 2016 at 8:19 PM.