South Carolina's late rally wasn't enough to overcome a double-digit first-half deficit as Georgia secured a 73-64 victory Tuesday night at Colonial Life Arena, denying the Gamecocks' bid for consecutive SEC wins.
Collin Murray-Boyles continued his impressive late-season surge with 24 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, but South Carolina (12-18, 2-15 SEC) couldn't overcome Georgia's hot shooting and balanced scoring attack.
The Bulldogs (19-11, 7-10 SEC) jumped out to an early lead behind Silas Demary Jr.'s 10 first-half points, building a 40-29 advantage by intermission. Georgia shot a blistering 53.3% from the field in the opening period while holding South Carolina to just 34.4%.
The Gamecocks showed renewed energy to start the second half, opening with a 6-0 run fueled by three-pointers from Murray-Boyles and Jamari Thomas. The surge trimmed Georgia's lead to single digits and set the stage for a competitive final period.
South Carolina gradually chipped away at the deficit, pulling within two points at 49-47 with 9:24 remaining when Nick Pringle completed a three-point play. The junior forward finished with 11 points and 3 rebounds in his second strong performance of the week.
Just when it appeared the Gamecocks might complete their comeback, Georgia responded with authority. Blue Cain knocked down consecutive three-pointers during an 8-0 Bulldogs run that pushed the lead back to 57-47 with 7:08 remaining.
Despite the setback, South Carolina refused to go away. Morris Ugusuk's three-pointer with 2:50 left cut the margin to five, and Pringle's jumper at the 1:52 mark brought the Gamecocks within four at 62-58. But the comeback bid stalled when Georgia answered with a Demary layup and controlled the final minute with free throws.
Demary led the Bulldogs with 16 points and 8 rebounds, while Cain added 14 points including 2-of-5 from beyond the arc. Asa Newell contributed 11 points as four Georgia players reached double figures.
South Carolina's perimeter shooting provided a bright spot, as the Gamecocks connected on 10-of-23 three-point attempts (43.5%). Thomas and Jacobi Wright each made two triples in scoring 6 points apiece, while Zachary Davis added 8 points including a pair of threes.
However, Georgia controlled the interior with a 37-23 rebounding advantage and converted 16-of-20 free throws (80%) to maintain their lead. The Bulldogs also held a decisive 26-16 edge in points in the paint.
Murray-Boyles continued his stellar play for South Carolina, reaching 20+ points for the third consecutive game. The sophomore forward went 5-of-11 from the field and converted 13-of-18 free throws in a team-high 35 minutes.
South Carolina will close out the regular season on Saturday with a challenging road trip to fourth-ranked Tennessee before heading to Nashville for the SEC Tournament.
