MBB: Gamecocks embarrassed at Mizzou, 72-67
South Carolina lost to Missouri 72-67 Tuesday night. Duane Notice led all scorers with 21 points.
Coming off the home blowout at the hands of Kentucky, Missouri seemed like the perfect opponent for South Carolina to rebound against. Missouri is the worst team in the SEC, lost nine straight games at one point, and dismissed its starting point guard and best player an hour before tipoff. It seemed like all South Carolina had to do was show up and it would walk away with the win.
Well all the Gamecocks did was show up.
They were out-played, out-hustled, and out-worked from the opening tip. The Tigers led by as many as 15 in the first half as the Gamecocks missed 19 of their first 22 shots. Worse than the misses was how they came: quick jump shots early in the possession, with no attempt to get the ball near the rim.
It wasn't as though the Tigers shot the lights out in building their lead. But they did attack the rim, drawing fouls and making layups. They established early that they would beat the Gamecocks at their own game: rebounding and free throws.
Led by freshman PJ Dozier, South Carolina started getting the ball in the paint in the second half. South Carolina cut the deficit the three points three times, but let off the gas each time. The first time, just minutes into the second half, Mizzou answered with a 7-0 run. The second time, midway through the half, Mizzou answered with an 8-0 run.
To its credit, South Carolina fought back a third time. A three-pointer by Michael Carrera made the score 62-59 with 4:13 left to play. A pair of free throws by Sindarius Thornwell drew South Carolina within a single point. Then Carrera made two more free throws to give South Carolina the lead and set up a tight finish.
Ryan Rosburg, who attempted 17 free throws in the game, made a pair of free throws, then Notice hit a jumper. Terrence Phiilips converted a three-point play, and then Dozier hit a floater in the lane to tie the game at 67 with 1:46 to play. It was the Gamecocks' last gasp.
Rosburg drew another foul, and made one of the free throws, and then he blocked Dozier's shot on the other end. K.J. Walton hit a jumper and then South Carolina turned the ball over. Rosburg was fouled, and made another free throw. Carrera missed a desperation three, and then Phillips added a free throw to complete the scoring.
Missouri had the advantage in every category. It had a better shooting percentage (38 to 33), more free throws (27-38 compared to 16-20), more rebounds (46-39), more points off turnovers (20 to 19), more second chance points (14 to 8) and more points in the paint (28 to 26). It was an uttely listless performance from South Carolina, who saw just one player, Notice, shoot better than 50 percent from the floor.
Notes:
Carrera added 14 points and 10 rebounds for South Carolina. ... Dozier had 12. ... Freshman Cullen VanLeer got his first career start in place of Clark. ... South Carolina returns to action Saturday against Florida.
