South Carolina was expected to win today vs. the 2-8 Florida A&M Rattlers, but despite the Gamecocks' 11-1 record, the last few games had been shaky, and South Carolina needed to make a statement ahead of their SEC opener next week vs. Miss. State. Consider that hurdle jumped, as the Gamecocks cruised to a 94-62 win on the back of a 30-2 run to end the first half, and an ultimately 37-2 run when counting the first several minutes of the second half. By halftime, every member of South Carolina's squad had scored at least once, and freshman contributors Morris Ugusuk and Collin Murray-Boyles had already had stand-out performances. The pair ended the game with 11 points and 17 points respectively.

By the end of the game, Murray-Boyles led the way for the Gamecocks, and Myles Stute added 16 of his own, but really it was a team effort for South Carolina, who dominated throughout this one on both sides of the floor.

This win was from pretty much every angle, as South Carolina outrebounded FAMU 44-30 and created 10 turnovers. The Gamecocks won on the perimeter with 10 made 3s and the interior with 38 points in the paint compared to just 20 for the Rattlers.

While this was an expected victory, South Carolina left no doubt and were able to treat stretches of this game like a live scrimmage, an opportunity that should prove fruitful as the Gamecocks enter SEC play in just one weeks' time. The Gamecocks ended with Ugusuk, Murray-Boyles, Stute, Meechie Johnson (11 points), and Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk (10 points) in double digits, and BJ Mack and Zach Davis were close behind with 9 points each.

This win showed the depth South Carolina can have when things are functioning on all cylinders and should give the Gamecocks confidence as they enter SEC play at an impressive 12-1 record, the best since the Final Four team of 2016.

Next up: The Gamecocks have an important home bout vs. the Mississippi State Bulldogs next Saturday, Jan. 6th at noon EST that will set the stage for just how high South Carolina's ceiling can be this season as the calendar turns to 2024.