USC Tops SC State 92-50

COLUMBIA, S.C. (SID) — South Carolina (4-0) picked up a non-conference home win Friday night after downing South Carolina State (1-2) 92-50. Senior guard Sindarius Thornwell led all scorers for the fourth-straight game with 22 points (8-of-15 from the field). It was Thornwell’s third 20-point game of the season.

Carolina went to the first media timeout up 11-3, after starting the game 5-of-7 from the field. The Bulldogs cut the lead to 13-8 after an Edward Stephens 3. The Gamecocks then held the Bulldogs scoreless for the next 3:25. Two Khadim Gueye free throws and a jumper by Maik Kotsar pushed the lead back to nine at 17-8 at the 13:44 mark in the opening period.

In the first 10 minutes, Carolina held SC State to just 29 percent shooting (4-of-14). The Gamecocks were the exact opposite, starting the game shooting 59 percent from the field (10-for-17).

Kotsar put Carolina up 25-11 after a nifty reverse layup with 8:56 left in the opening half to force Bulldogs head coach Murray Garvin to take his first timeout of the game. After the timeout, the Gamecocks went on a 10-2 run after 3s from sophomore guard PJ Dozier and r-sophomore guard Hassani Gravett.

Thornwell pushed the lead to 40-18 after knocking down a corner 3 with five minutes left to play in the opening half. The Lancaster, S.C. native, then hit another 3 with 1:46 left to push Carolina’s lead to 45-23. The 3 gave him 16 first-half points, which led all scorers. The Gamecocks ended the half on a 5-0 run to take a 50-25 lead at the break. Kotsar had eight points at the break and led the team with seven rebounds. The Bulldogs did not connect for a field goal the final 2:41 of the first half and finished 9-for-28 (32 percent) from the field.

Carolina continued to build on its lead in the second half. Kotsar hit double-figures for the first time in his career with 16:54 left in the game after a put back lay-in off a Thornwell miss. The lay-in opened up a 30-point lead for the home team, 60-30.

The Gamecocks would lead by 26 or more for the rest of the night.

Kotsar, a native of Tallin, Estonia, finished the game with 15 points and eight rebounds. He was a perfect 7-of-7 from the field.

Chris Silva also was in double-figures with 11 points. He also had seven rebounds, including four on the offensive end.

Eric Eaves, the Bulldogs leading returner scorer, finished with a game-high 14 points for SC State.