The South Carolina men's basketball team's seven-game win streak snapped with a 101-61 loss to the Auburn Tigers on Wednesday. Auburn's shooting proved the difference maker, as the team remains perfect at home this season with a record of 13-0.
The Tigers were dominant in the first half, and the Gamecocks found itself down 50-28 by the break. The Tigers made 19 of its 30 shots, which included making seven of 11 from 3-point range.
“They were really good. We weren't that good. That’s what happens when you have that combination. So they played some inspired, determined, intentional basketball,” head coach Lamont Paris said.
Auburn graduate student forward Jaylin Williams was a key factor in the team's victory, making four of five 3-pointers and finishing with 16 points in the first half. South Carolina could not keep up, as it made just 10 of its 28 shots with an early six turnovers.
Paris credited Auburn's defense for stifling the Gamecocks' chances of winning, but he said his team's poor shooting performance was also to blame.
“They’re a good defensive team, that's no secret. I think their pressure bothered us to some degree,” Paris said. "But again, we were at 1 point per possession throughout a large majority of the game."
The only strong points in the first half for the Gamecocks came from freshman forward Collin Murray-Boyles and junior guard Meechie Johnson, who combined to score 21 of the team's 28 points and shot a combined eight for 16 from the field.
The Tigers continued rolling in the second half, scoring 51 more points to finish in the triple digits. The Tigers shot 61% from the field by the end of the game, whereas the Gamecocks shot only 34.6%. Auburn also made 12 3-pointers compared to South Carolina’s three.
"We had a couple guys in there late in hopes that they would do something," Paris said. "It was good to see Meechie out there able to score.”
Auburn also capitalized more off of turnovers in the contest, scoring 25 points from the Gamecocks' mistakes. South Carolina forced only seven turnovers, netting 8 points from its takeaways.
“I don't want to take anything away from Auburn. They’re a good team, they’re well coached, they played really well,” Paris said. “I think that'll be easier for them to get on to the next practice. Stuff happens. Sometimes you get the bull, sometimes the bull gets you. And it wasn't our day in conjunction with it was their day.”
Despite the game's outcome, South Carolina achieved most of its free throws, making 22 of 28. Graduate student forward B.J. Mack and Murray-Boyles contributed seven makes each, and Murray-Boyles ended the game with 19 points and seven rebounds.
Johnson was the Gamecocks' leading scoring in this contest with 22 points. Mack finished with 14 points, shooting three for seven from the field.
South Carolina will look to bounce back this Saturday when it takes on LSU at Colonial Life Arena. Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network.