The Gamecocks men’s basketball team defeated Georgia 80-68 on the road on Feb. 12, thanks to its use of zone defense. The win puts an end to a three-game losing streak, two of which were at home.
Georgia opened the game very strong and jumped out to an early lead. That lead lasted them just over 10 minutes into the game.
South Carolina implemented an aggressive zone defense, which was a major factor in the team's effectiveness under the basket. The Gamecocks outrebounded Georgia 41-27.
“Zone [defense] saved us,” head coach Frank Martin said. “My confidence in it and the players’ confidence in it is really good.”
South Carolina’s zone defense helped spark a 20-0 run in the first half, which helped the team overtake the lead and build momentum.
“It was very important for us to come out here and play with some kind of aggression,” senior forward Keyshawn Bryant said. “This game and the last few practices determine what type of team we are.”
Despite this momentum shift, the Bulldogs brought it back within 4 points by halftime. The game stayed close at the beginning of the second half but eventually, the Gamecocks widened its lead to secure the win.
“I’ve got as much fight as I had in 1985 when I first started coaching,” Martin said. “I like the makeup of this team. I like the personalities on this team, and they didn’t disappoint.”
Bryant and Freshman guard Devin Carter led South Carolina's offensive attack with 22 and 21 points respectively, a new season-high for Bryant. Carter’s 21 points came despite him not being in the starting lineup, with 14 of them being in the second half.
“Coach told me yesterday that he was going to put Jermaine back in the starting lineup,” Carter said. “I just go out there and play hard every time he calls my name.”
The Gamecocks’ first win in February comes after a tough stretch of losses against No. 19 ranked Tennessee, No. 5 Kentucky and away at Mississippi State.
“Winning on the road cures a lot of ill will,” Martin said. “For the last month they've [Georgia] played really good basketball, so I’m really proud of our guys.”
The Gamecocks now sit at 14-10 overall and 5-7 in conference play.
The team will take the court again on Feb. 14 when they travel for a game against Ole Miss. The last time the two faced each other, the Gamecocks fell short by 17 points in a 76-59 loss in Oxford. The game will be at 7 p.m. and can be viewed on ESPNU.