Tigers Can’t Slow Down Gamecocks, 81-59

Dec 8, 2001

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12/08/01 Larry Shyatt’s post-game pressconference.

By JEFFREY COLLINSAssociated Press Writer

CLEMSON, S.C. – Aaron Lucas scored 20 points and Jamel Bradley added 18 as South Carolina beat Clemson 81-59 on Saturday night.

The Gamecocks (6-3) dominated the outside, hitting 9-of-25 (36 percent) on 3-pointers, compared to the Tigers’ 3-of-23 (13 percent).

And South Carolina won the battle in the paint, too, outrebounding Clemson 46-37. The Tigers(6-3) had been beating teams on the boards by an average of 11 rebounds a game.

The Tigers, who trailed 51-30 at the break, pulled within 14 at 64-50 off consecutive 3-pointers from Jamar McKnight.

But McKnight would miss his next two shots as the Clemson rally fizzled. South Carolina would eventually build a game-high lead at 77-54 with five minutes to go.

Chris Hobbs led Clemson with 14 points and six rebounds. McKnight added 13 and Edward Scott scored 10 points and had nine assists for the Tigers.

But Clemson struggled from outside. Tony Stockman went 0-for-8 from behind the arc.

The win was only South Carolina’s second in the last 19 games at Littlejohn Coliseum between the in-state rivals.

South Carolina started the game hitting 2-of-10. But the Gamecocks would hit nine of their next 10 shots, including a 14-0 run, to take a 33-16 lead with nine minutes left.

Clemson answered with an 11-5 run of its own to pull within 35-23. But after calling a 30-second time-out, South Carolina ended the half on a 16-7 run and was ahead 51-30 at the break.

Lucas hit four 3-pointers in the half and ended up with 14 points at the break. South Carolina shot 7-for-16 (43.8 percent) behind the arc in the half, compared to 0-for-9 for Clemson.

The Gamecocks’ 51 points was the most in a half for the Gamecocks since they scored 53 in the second half against Ole Miss on March 7, 1998 and the most Clemson has allowed in a half since Georgia Tech scored 59 points on the Tigers on Jan. 24.

South Carolina’s inside players continued to play better. Marius Petravicius scored 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting and pulled down seven rebounds. Rolando Howell scored 13 points and had six boards, while Tony Kitchings scored nine points and nine rebounds before leaving the game late after taking a blow to the head. Kitchings missed Monday’s game against Providence with a concussion he suffered two nights before.