South Carolina’s struggles continued against another ranked SEC opponent as they lost to 14th-ranked Mississippi State 65-60 in Columbia on Saturday. Despite fighting back from a 14-point deficit in the second half to force overtime, the Gamecocks fell short once again, marking their worst-ever start in SEC play at 0-7. They remain the only team without a conference win, with five of those losses coming against ranked teams, four by five points or fewer.
Down 50-36 with 8:40 left, South Carolina mounted a 19-5 run to tie the game at 55-55, with Jamarii Thomas scoring nine of his game-high 19 points in the stretch. Zachary Davis’ steal and layup in the final seconds of regulation helped force overtime, but a missed layup by Mississippi State’s Josh Hubbard sent the game into extra time. In overtime, a turnover by Nick Pringle allowed the Bulldogs to pull ahead 61-57, and while Thomas hit one of two free throws to cut the lead, missed free throws and costly turnovers sealed the loss for USC.
The Gamecocks had 19 turnovers in the game, their second most this season, and have now committed at least 16 turnovers in four straight games. On a positive note, they shot 22-29 from the foul line and outrebounded Mississippi State 45-30. The Gamecocks’ record is now 10-10 overall as they head to Georgia on Tuesday.
Earlier in the week, South Carolina lost a close 70-69 game to fifth-ranked Florida at home on Wednesday. The Gamecocks squandered a 13-point lead in the final 8:34 of the game, committing five turnovers in the final minutes. Florida capitalized on those mistakes, with a clutch layup from Will Richard giving the Gators their first lead of the game with just 17 seconds left. Despite a late chance for a game-winning shot by Jacobi Wright, the Gamecocks fell just short. Davis led USC with 22 points, matching his career high.
Women’s Basketball:
The second-ranked South Carolina women’s team defeated 5th-ranked LSU 65-55 on Friday in Columbia. After a back-and-forth first half, the Gamecocks seized control in the third quarter, with LSU shooting just 27% in the second half and enduring a nine-minute field goal drought. Joyce Edwards led South Carolina with 14 points and three steals, while Sania Feagin added 12 points and three blocks. With this win, South Carolina extended its winning streak over LSU to 17 and has now won 14 straight since a loss to UCLA. They will face Tennessee next on Monday night.
The Gamecocks also routed Oklahoma 101-60 last Sunday. USC dominated from the start, holding Oklahoma to just 20% shooting in the first quarter and opening with a 58% shooting clip. The Gamecocks finished the game with a 53-21 advantage in bench points, with Joyce Edwards leading the way with 17 points. MiLaysia Fulwiley contributed 15 points, and Tessa Johnson added 13 points, including three three-pointers.
Football:
South Carolina finished 19th in the final AP Top 25 poll, dropping five spots after their loss to Illinois in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. The Gamecocks earned 405 points, with their highest ranking reaching 13th. Coach Shane Beamer announced that spring practice will begin on March 9th, with the spring game scheduled for April 18th. Beamer also received a contract extension, raising his salary to over $8 million annually, with increases each year until 2030.
Linebacker Bam Martin-Scott declared for the NFL Draft, opting to forgo pursuing another season of eligibility. Martin-Scott, who had 67 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks this season, had hoped to gain an extra year of eligibility but chose to move on with his professional career.
Tennis:
The women’s tennis team defeated New Mexico 4-0 in the consolation match of the ITA Kickoff Weekend. However, they lost to 7th-ranked Duke 4-1 the previous day. The Gamecocks are now 3-1 and will play at Georgia Tech on February 8th.
The men’s tennis team defeated North Florida 4-0 in their consolation match after falling to San Diego 4-1. They are now 3-2 and will host Queens and College of Charleston on Wednesday.
Swimming/Diving:
The 18th-ranked women’s swimming and diving team finished their regular season with a dominant 211.5-86.5 win over Georgia Tech, securing their third consecutive dual meet victory. The men’s team lost to Georgia Tech 169-131. The SEC Championships are set for February 17th at Georgia.
Baseball:
The baseball team opened preseason camp under new head coach Paul Mainieri. The Gamecocks will start their season on February 14th against Sacred Heart. Junior outfielder/infielder Ethan Petry was named a Second Team Preseason All-American, having accumulated 44 home runs and 128 RBI in his first two seasons at South Carolina.
Softball:
The softball team also began preseason drills under new head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard. The Gamecocks will open their season at home against Virginia on February 6th.
