The South Carolina men's basketball team fell to the No. 3 Florida Gators 88-67 at Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida, despite a strong opening half for the Gamecocks.
The Gamecocks previously faced the Gators on Jan. 22 at Colonial Life Arena, losing by one point, 70-69.
The Gamecocks stayed competitive, with sophomore forward Collin Murray-Boyles and senior guard Jacobi Wright keeping the deficit manageable. A surge from junior guard Zachary Davis helped tie the game at 15-15, but Florida quickly regained control with strong inside play and free throws.
Sophomore guard Morris Ugusuk’s 3-pointer added to South Carolina's early 21-18 lead, which was then followed up by a powerful dunk from Murray-Boyles. Florida responded with a 3-pointer from senior guard Walter Clayton Jr., but South Carolina’s offense found its rhythm with graduate forward Nick Pringle scoring inside.
The back-and-forth battle continued, with sophomore guard Urban Klavzar’s 3-pointer pulling Florida within 1 point before a Pringle dunk, and a layup from Florida's junior guard Denzel Aberdeen’s kept it close.
As the first half wound down, neither team could establish complete control, trading baskets and defensive stops. South Carolina and Florida showcased their competitive edge, leaving fans on the edge of their seats as they headed into halftime with a score of Florida up 37-33.
Florida pulled away early in the second half, capitalizing off of South Carolina's offensive struggles and quickly extending its 4-point halftime lead. Aberdeen set the tone with a fast-break 3-pointer, and sophomore forward Thomas Haugh followed it up with a 3-pointer of his own to push the lead to 10. Florida’s defense also tightened up, forcing key misses from Thomas and Davis, and forcing turnovers that fueled its transition offense.
Despite a brief spark from Ugusuk, whose fast-break 3-pointer cut the deficit to 11, Florida countered in-between the run with junior center Micah Handlogten’s hitting a jumper and another Aberdeen 3-pointer. Even with a highlight dunk from Davis, South Carolina struggled to slow Florida’s relentless attack. The Gators stretched the lead to 21 after a 3-pointer from graduate guard Alijah Martin and back-to-back triples from Aberdeen.
South Carolina’s struggles continued in the closing minutes, as free throws from Murray-Boyles and Pringle provided little momentum. Florida controlled the boards and maintained defensive pressure on South Carolina, leading to an 88-67 loss.
Defensive Challenges
South Carolina struggled defensively against Florida, unable to contain key scorers like Aberdeen, who scored a career-high 22 points, and Haugh, who added significant contributions from beyond the arc. The Gamecocks faltered in transition defense, allowing the Gators to capitalize on turnovers with 26 fast-break points that extended their lead.
Additionally, Florida dominated the boards, limiting South Carolina’s chances for second chance points and consistently giving the Gators more opportunities to control the pace of the game. Florida had 12 total offensive rebounds and second chance points while the Gamecocks had 15 total offensive rebounds and second chance points.
Offensive Inconsistencies
While South Carolina started strong, shooting 75% from the floor in the first 12 minutes, its offensive efficiency declined as the game progressed. The Gamecocks struggled to maintain their early shooting success as they found themselves missing open 3-pointers and layups.
As their shooting percentage dropped, they also committed multiple turnovers, with several passes being intercepted or mishandled. Florida capitalized on these mistakes, converting 13 turnovers into fast-break points and easy baskets. This allowed the Gators to maintain their momentum and extend their lead, putting South Carolina on the defensive for much of the second half.
Second-Half Surge from Florida
After a closely contested first half that saw the Gamecocks trailing by 4 points at halftime, the Gators came out strong in the second half, opening with a decisive 12-1 run. Florida’s Aberdeen sparked the surge with a fast-break 3-pointer, and the Gators followed up with multiple quick baskets, including key shots from Haugh and Martin.
South Carolina struggled to match Florida’s intensity, missing several offensive opportunities and failing to stop the Gators’ fast breaks. This early surge quickly pushed the lead to 15 points, forcing the Gamecocks into a defensive position for the rest of the game and making it difficult for them to recover.
What's Next?
The Gamecocks (10-15, 0-12 SEC) will travel to play the LSU Tigers (13-12, 2-10 SEC) on Tuesday night at Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Tipoff is at 9:00 p.m. and will broadcast live on the SEC Network.