Clemson Men’s Hoops Falls To South Carolina 76-64

Dec. 9, 2000

By JEFFREY COLLINS Associated Press Writer

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Tony Kitchings went 9 for 10 for a career-high 23 points as South Carolina snapped a six-game losing streak against in-state rival Clemson with a 76-64 win Saturday night.

The Gamecocks answered Clemson’s one and only lead at 41-40 with 10:55 left with a 25-11 run over the next eight minutes, sparked by two 3-pointers by Jamel Bradley.

Clemson’s Adam Allenspach led the Tigers with 15 points, while Will Soloman scored 13 on 4-of-16 shooting.

It was a rough game. South Carolina made 29-of-47 free throws, while Clemson went 10-for-15 from the foul line. Teammates had to separate players twice, with Kitchings and Clemson’s Edward Scott getting technicals fighting over a rebound.

The few Clemson fans in attendance roared as Allenspach’s short jumper put the Tigers ahead 41-40. That seemed to spark the Gamecocks, who hit six of their next nine shots, including 3-pointers from Chuck Eidson, Aaron Lucas and Bradley.

Will Solomon briefly slowed South Carolina’s momentum with a 3-pointer that cut the deficit to 47-46. Kitchens followed a Eidson miss with a slam dunk. The Tigers pulled within one once more on a Scott jumper with 7:57 left. But then the Gamecocks put the game away on a 16-4 run capped by a Kitchings put-back of a missed free throw.

South Carolina started the game hitting five of its first eight shots and took a 15-4 lead. But then both teams went cold.

South Carolina was 1-for-12 from the three-point line and shot 32 percent from the field in the first half. Will Soloman went 1-for-6 as the Tigers shot 26 percent in the first-half, their worst performance in one half this season.

South Carolina coach Eddie Fogler and Clemson’s coach Larry Shyatt shook hands at half-court before the game started. The coaches had a shouting match after last year’s 61-58 Clemson win.