November 23, 2016
Spurs & Feathers • 7
Four wins in eight days to start year prepares Gamecocks the right way BY BRIAN HAND Executive Editor COLUMBIA - It was a tough opening stretch for South Carolina men’s basketball with four games in eight days to start the regular-season, but the Gamecocks passed with flying colors as they went a perfect 4-0. South Carolina (4-0) closed out the opening stretch of the regular-season with a dominating 92-50 win over SC State (1-2) on Friday, Nov. 18, at the Colonial Life Arena. After the Gamecocks’ fourth win of the year, South Carolina men’s basketball head coach Frank Martin pointed out that he knows the Gamecocks have “a lot of work to do,” but also that “our room for improvement is through the roof right now.” PHOTO BY JENNY DILWORTH A lot of that has to do with the fact that Martin knows he has a tremendous grouping of upperclassmen, but at the same time a bevy of newcent (33-for-65) as a team in the contest, while Nov. 23. The game will be televised by ESPNU. a 2 p.m. game on Saturday, Nov. 26. The game comers still trying to getting incorporated into the Gamecock defense limited SC State to just The Gamecocks will then close out the week at the Barclays Center will be streamed live on the system fully. 30.8 percent (16-of-52) shooting as a team. by traveling to Brooklyn to take on Syracuse for ESPN3. “They want to do well, and I know that,” South Carolina out-rebounded SC State, 47Martin said of the newcomers. “I’ve got to help 24, with the Gamecocks plucking 17 rebounds them, and our upperclassmen have been pheon the offensive glass. The Gamecocks had 28 nomenal trying to help those guys.” second-chance points in the game. South Carolina scored 11 of the first 14 points Three Gamecocks ended their efforts in douOfficial Clothier of Todd Ellis, Voice of the Gamecocks in the win over SC State to take an 11-3 lead af- ble figures with Thornwell leading the way with ter a Sindarius Thornwell bucket with 16:25 left 22 points. Kotsar just missed on a double-double in the opening half of action. with a career-best 15 points and eight rebounds. Gameday ¼ The Gamecocks would continue to extend Chris Silva concluded his night with 11 points Zip Pullover by their lead from there with South Carolina ahead and seven rebounds. Southern Tide. by 14 points at 25-11 after a Maik Kotsar layup EJ Eaves was the top scorer for SC State with Available in with nine minutes to play in half No. 1. 18 points. Tashombe Riley was the only other black & garnet. South Carolina would go on to lead by 25 at Bulldog in double figures with 10 points. 50-25 at the halftime break. The Gamecocks South Carolina sophomore guard PJ Dozier were led by Thornwell’s 16 in the first half. At ended the win over SC State with eight points one point, Thornwell scored 12 consecutive and six assists, and after the win over the Bullpoints for South Carolina. dogs he pointed out that the first four games of The Gamecocks finished the first half shootthe year have prepared the Gamecocks the right ing 55.9 percent (19-of-34) as a team from the way for their two tough games in the upcoming field, while South Carolina connected on 42.9 week. Smathers & Branson percent (6-of-14) of their three-point attempts “I think they’ve all prepared us very well,” Limited Edition in the inaugural half of action. The Gamecock Dozier said. “We’ve seen multiple defenses, Belt and Keybob defense limited SC State to just multiple offenses, and I feel like 32.1 percent (9-of-28) shooting in each team had their own unique the first half. way that they played. So just beSouth Carolina opened the ing able to see a lot of different Exclusively at Exclusive second half on a 10-5 run to own things leading into these games a 30-point lead at 60-30 with that we’re about to go into next 16:54 to play in the contest after a week is good for us.” Kotsar layup. The first of the two tough The Gamecocks would then go games for the Gamecocks in 2818 Devine Street • Columbia on to lead by as many as 43 beAll Gamecock basketball the upcoming week is when (803) 771-2700 fore picking up the 42-point win. coverage sponsored by Michigan visits the Colonial Life www.BrittonsOfColumbia.com South Carolina shot 50.8 perYesterdays Arena at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Phone Orders Welcome AS14-1490471-1
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