MBB: Gamecocks suffer another road loss

Another city, another loss for South Carolina, who lost 68-58 at Mississippi State.

The loss dropped South Carolina to 4-5 on the road overall and 3-5 in the SEC. Even worse, it was another loss to a team at the bottom of the SEC standings and the game looked like a carbon copy of the other losses. South Carolina came out with little energy, turned the ball over, and let the home team make shots.

Mississippi State led 13-4 just four minutes into the game as it turned four South Carolina turnovers into eight points. A 10-0 run soon followed that stretched the Mississippi State lead to 25-9 and South Carolina would not get within single digits until the final 90 seconds of the game.

The Gamecocks cut the deficit to ten five minutes into the second half. They had a chance to get to single digits, but on one possessions Duane Notice missed two baskets and committed a turnover. The Bulldogs scored the next six points of the game and the threat was over.

With eight minutes to play, Mississippi State began to milk the shot clock. Once South Carolina started to foul to prolong the game, Mississippi State had trouble making its free throws and South Carolina finally got the deficit down to 9 with less than 90 seconds to play. But Mississippi State made just enough from the line to secure the win.

Mississippi State shot 56 percent in the first half and 45 percent for the game. South Carolina was a miserable 30 percent shooting in the first half, and finished the game shooting 37 percent. Even when it got the ball to the rim, South Carolina struggled to score, as it missed numerous layups. South Carolina committed 21 turnovers which led to 24 Mississippi State points.

SIndarius Thornwell scored 12 for the Gamecocks and Notice finished with ten points. Gavin Ware led four Bulldogs in double figures with 16 points. He also had a game-high 12 rebounds.

Notes:

Eric Cobb and Jarrell Holliman missed the game due to the flu bug that has been making its way through the team. John Ragin also missed the game with an illness. ... South Carolina's first nine points were all second chance points. ... Mississippi State led by double figures for over 30 of the game's 40 minutes. ... Michael Carrera, who had 34 points and 15 rebounds in the first meeting against Missisippi State, struggled with six points and eight rebounds. He suffered a leg injury in the second half that limited his productivity. ... The Lithuanians, Mindaugas Kacinas and Laimonas Chatkevicius, each score nine points. ... South Carolina returns to action March 3 against Georgia.

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