Malik Dia hit a 3-pointer with just over two minutes remaining that put Mississippi ahead to stay and finished with 18 points as 19th-ranked Ole Miss beat South Carolina 72-68 on Wednesday night.
South Carolina made its first NCAA Tournament appearance in seven years with a surprise run of success in the Southeastern Conference.
Nick Pringle had the chance to finish his career anywhere after Alabama’s run to the Final Four this past season. He chose to come home, especially after South Carolina completed its own rags-to-riches season in the second year of coach Lamont Paris.
The best part of South Carolina men’s basketball coach Lamont Paris’ rise from forgotten in the SEC to the school’s first NCAA berth in seven years was the tight bond built among players with little or no connections.
Camden Native and Former Gamecock Basketball Player GG Jackson is returning to the Midlands to give back.
Picked last in the Southeastern Conference after going 11-21 in Paris’ debut season, South Carolina is 18-3 and rolling along almost as strongly as Staley’s undefeated group.
The Southeastern Conference fined South Carolina $100,000 for its fans storming the court after the top-ranked Gamecocks’ 79-62 win over No. 6 Kentucky.
