Gamecocks Fall to Butler, 79-72, in Opening Game of Skechers Greenbrier Tip-Off
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. (AP) — Michael Ajayi had 15 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks on Friday and Finley Bizjack scored 13 of his 18 points in the second half to help Butler beat South Carolina 79-72 at the Greenbrier Tip-Off.
Jamie Kaiser Jr. added 14 points on 5-of-5 shooting and Jalen Jackson scored 10 points for Butler (4-1)
The Bulldogs never trailed and used a 10-0 run midway through the first half to take a 12-point lead with 7:17 left until halftime. Yame B’yutler stole a pass from Meechie Johnson, was fouled and hit two free throws before Ajayi blocked a shot that led to a fast-break layup by Kaiser to cap the spurt.
Johnson led South Carolina (4-1) with 24 points and Mike Sharavjamts and Eli Ellis added 13 points apiece.
Kobe Knox and Ellis sandwiched 3s around a layup by Sharavjamts to trim South Carolina’s deficit to 56-52 midway through the second half. Drayton Jones answered with a dunk before Bizjack hit a 3-pointer that made it a nine-point lead and it was at least a two-possession game the rest of the way.
The Bulldogs shot 61% (14 of 23) in the second half and made 27 of 56 (48%) overall while they outscored South Carolina 42-32 in points in the paint. Butler outrebounded the Gamecocks 47-26, which included a 15-9 advantage on the offensive glass, and outscored them 23-10 in second-chance points.
It was the first-ever matchup between the programs.
KEY STATS
- Butler was +19 in the rebound column and had a 23-10 advantage in second chance points. The Bulldogs had 15 offensive rebounds.
NOTABLES .
- Redshirt senior guard Meechie Johnson led all scorers with 24 points on 8-of-19 shooting. It was his 16th career game with 20 or more points.
- Senior transfer Mike Sharavjamts had 13 points and a team-high six rebounds.
- Freshman Eli Ellis had 13 points as well off the bench, scoring 12 in the second half. He led the team with a career-high three steals.
- Redshirt senior Kobe Knox led the Gamecocks for the second consecutive game with four assists. He added seven points and five rebounds as well today. Knox has tied or led the team in assists in three games now this season.
UP NEXT
South Carolina faces Northwestern (4-0) on Sunday in its second game of the Skechers Greenbrier Tip-Off. The matchup begins at 5 p.m. (ET) on CBS Sports Network with Jack Benjamin (pxp) and Anne O’Neil (analyst) on the call. It will be another first-time matchup for the Gamecocks.
