LIVE FROM COLONIAL LIFE ARENA — GAMECOCKS BACK ON TRACK
After Tuesday’s overtime setback against Virginia Tech, South Carolina basketball stormed back into the win column Saturday, delivering a dominant 82–51 victory over Stetson in Columbia. Led by Meechie Johnson’s 17 points, the Gamecocks used an early avalanche of three-pointers to seize control and never look back.
Fast Start From Deep Fuels Early Run
Stetson briefly held a 5–0 lead, but South Carolina answered immediately with an emphatic 18–4 run over just five minutes — and it was the bench that lit the spark.
- Elijah Strong knocked down two threes
- Eli Ellis and Grant Polk each added one
- Bench players scored 12 of those 18 points
From that surge onward, the Gamecocks kept Stetson at arm’s length. A late first-half bucket inside from Strong pushed the lead to double digits for the first time.
Even with six first-half turnovers, South Carolina’s smothering perimeter defense held firm. The Hatters hit their opening three-pointer… then missed 15 straight from beyond the arc.
Meanwhile, the Gamecocks stayed hot:
- Five different players hit a three in the first half
- USC shot 46.2% (6–13) from deep before the break
Afterward, head coach Lamont Paris praised his team’s confidence:
“You have to believe in your ability to make shots… Shoot the shot because you’re probably gonna make the shot. Shoot it and believe you’re gonna make it because you’ve made it so many times.”
By halftime, South Carolina’s bench had produced more than half of the team’s points, and a commanding 18–3 run to close the half delivered a 43–24 advantage.
Paris summed up the defensive clinic simply:
“Anytime you hold a college basketball team to those low numbers… you’re going to give yourself a great chance to have success.”
Johnson, Knox & Freshmen Carry Momentum in Second Half
Stetson opened the second half with two quick baskets — but Meechie Johnson responded immediately with a three, marking his seventh straight game with a made three-pointer.
Moments later, Kobe Knox converted a layup and drew the foul, stretching the lead to 20 for the first time. Knox, who faced Stetson last season at USF, finished with 8 points.
The freshman sharpshooters continued to shine:
- Grant Polk buried a three out of the second media timeout
- Eli Ellis followed with a steal and transition score
- Polk splashed another deep ball under the 10-minute mark, inflating the lead to 30
Even when Stetson briefly heated up — with Ethan Copeland hitting back-to-back threes — the outcome was long decided. South Carolina’s rebounding dominance put the game out of reach.
Gamecocks Dominate the Glass
Ten different USC players tallied multiple rebounds, overwhelming Stetson on the boards:
- Halftime margin: 16–9
- Final margin: 41–20
By the final buzzer, the Gamecocks had secured just their second 30-plus-point win of the Lamont Paris era.
Up Next
South Carolina remains at home, returning to Colonial Life Arena on Saturday, Dec. 13, to host The Citadel.
Tipoff: 7:00 p.m. — SEC Network+.
