The South Carolina men's basketball team was handed its first road loss of the season when it fell 87-71 to No. 16 Indiana Saturday afternoon at Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana.
The defeat dropped the Gamecocks' overall record to 2-2 early in the campaign.
The first period of the game was a fast-paced, back-and-forth battle. South Carolina started strong, opening with a jumper from senior guard Jamarii Thomas and a layup from sophomore forward Collin Murray-Boyles, which gave the team an early 4-0 lead.
Indiana struggled with missed shots early but gained momentum with sophomore forward Mackenzie Mgbako’s fast-break dunk and redshirt sophomore Myles Rice’s 3-pointer to edge ahead 5-4.
Indiana’s offense continued clicking and orchestrated a 14-point scoring run led by Rice and Mgbako, who combined for multiple jumpers and 3-pointers. By the end of the run, the Hoosiers pushed its lead to double digits just six minutes into the game.
South Carolina responded with sophomore guard Morris Ugusuk and senior guard Myles Stute connecting on several key 3-pointers to close the gap slightly. But Indiana maintained control with second-chance points and defensive stops, highlighted by redshirt senior center Oumar Ballo’s blocks.
As the clock wound down, Rice continued to anchor Indiana’s offense, and the Hoosiers' defense held firm, helping Indiana maintain a lead despite South Carolina’s efforts to chip away. The period ended with Indiana up 43-32, with the Hoosiers capitalizing on turnovers and strong rebounding.
Both teams began the second half with defensive intensity. Indiana made a substitution at the beginning, bringing Ballo back into the game. Shortly after, junior forward Malik Reneau missed a shot, leading to a defensive rebound by South Carolina graduate student forward Nick Pringle.
South Carolina’s offense struggled initially in the second period, with Stute missing more shots, but Pringle grabbed offensive rebounds to keep possessions alive. Despite this, South Carolina couldn't convert on its shooting opportunities, and Indiana capitalized with a 3-pointer by Reneau, assisted by Mgbako.
The Gamecocks and the Hoosiers exchanged missed shots and defensive rebounds as the period went along, with turnovers becoming a key aspect of the early minutes. Sophomore guard Kanaan Carlyle of Indiana made a three, extending Indiana's lead to 14 points, but South Carolina managed to stay within striking distance thanks to efforts from Pringle and junior guard Zachary Davis.
As the period progressed, Indiana maintained a lead, but South Carolina remained persistent, with Pringle and Thomas making crucial plays to close the gap. Key defensive rebounds and fast breaks by South Carolina kept the energy high, but it would't be enough as the game ended with Indiana taking the victory.
Inefficient shooting
The Gamecocks struggled to find its rhythm on offense, shooting 38% from the field and 28% from 3-point range. The team was unable to capitalize on open looks — with several wide-open 3-point attempts rimming out or falling short — and missed several crucial shots down the stretch, including a few layups and short jumpers that could have swung the momentum in their favor.
As the game wore on, the Gamecocks' shooting woes only seemed to worsen, as a stretch of over five minutes without a field goal in the second half allowed Indiana to pull away and build a commanding lead.
Ugusuk proved to be a bright spot for South Carolina, finishing the game with a team-high 18 points on 5-8 shooting (including 4-6 on 3-pointers). But Murray-Boyles and senior guard Jacobi Wright, the team's highest-scoring players early in the season, finished with just 2 and 6, respectively.
Lengthy scoring runs
Indiana ultimately defeated the Gamecocks by 16 points, with lengthy scoring runs at both the beginning and end of the game serving as part of the reason why its advantage was so large.
The Gamecocks grabbed momentum early in the contest when it took an early 4-0 lead, but the team's efforts did not prove to be sustainable in the long run. The Hoosiers proceeded to score 14 unanswered points, giving it a lead that it would not relinquish for the rest of the contest.
South Carolina brought Indiana's advantage to just 8 points with over one minute remaining, but the home team hit eight consecutive free throws to restore a double-digit advantage.
Turnovers and miscues
South Carolina committed 12 turnovers, many of which came at critical junctures in the game, stifling the Gamecocks' momentum and gifting Indiana with easy transition opportunities. The miscues proved costly, as the Hoosiers capitalized on the mistakes, converting them into crucial points that helped build its lead.
The turnovers not only disrupted South Carolina's offensive flow but also allowed Indiana to push the pace and dictate the tempo of the game, ultimately contributing to the Gamecocks' defeat.
What's next?
The Gamecocks (2-2) will return to Colonial Life Arena where it will host the Mercer Bears (2-2) on Nov. 21. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m., and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.