SOUTH CAROLINA MEN’S BASKETBALL
South Carolina took control early in the second half and pulled away for a 90-63 win over Cleveland State.
Both teams started slow, but a three-minute, 17-4 run put South Carolina up 17 and it looked like the Gamecocks would cruise to an easy win. But that stretch was an anomaly, as cold shooting and defensive lapses plagued South Carolina for most of the half, and Cleveland State trimmed the lead to just five at halftime.
The numbers were ugly. South Carolina shot just 36 percent, while allowing Cleveland State to shoot 56 percent. South Carolina had 13 offensive rebounds but only seven second chance points as it missed layup after layup. Maik Kotsar was asked if Frank Martin did any yelling at halftime, he laughed and said, “Frank talked to us.”
“We realized that the weren’t giving up,” Kotsar said. “Frank conveyed that to us, that we’ve got to go out there and fight.”
The Gamecocks came out with renewed focus in the second half, making shots and playing defense like they did during that first half run. AJ Lawson hit a three and then converted a traditional three-point play as the Gamecocks scored the first 12 points of the half.
“I was real happy with our guys, how they responded to start the second half. We didn’t settle for shots and we were aggressive driving the ball,” Martin said. “I was proud of how we started the second half.”
The shots in the paint that wouldn’t drop in the first half started to fall, and Maik Kotsar, Alanzo Frink, and Wildens Leveque each scored during an 18-2, seven minute run to start the half. Cleveland State turned the ball over eight times during the span and managed just five field goal attempts, making one.
Lawson was aggressive throughout the game, playing the way Martin wants him to play all the time. He attempted 13 free throws, making a career-high 12, and finished with a career-high 28 points. Lawson also tied for the game-high with four assists and had three rebounds.
“I’m just going game-by-game and practicing as hard as I can so when game time comes I’m prepared and ready to play my game within the system and make the right plays,” Lawson said. “I was being very aggressive with the ball, attacking and trying to get to the free throw line, get layups, and shoot the ball.”
Frink struggled at times in the first half, shooting just 2-5 with two turnovers, but he also had seven rebounds and was getting good position inside. He put it together in the second half on the way to his first career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, both career-highs.
Leveque was also impressive and is making a case for more playing time. He had 12 points, two steals a rebound and block in just 11 minutes. He has yet to miss a basket this season, and is 6-7 from the foul line.
“He brings a presence at the rim offensively and defensively,” Martin said. “He attacks the ball when it’s near the rim on offense and defensively he protects the rim.”
South Carolina finished with 26 offensive rebounds and 21 second chance points, and had 14 points off 13 rebounds in the second half.
Notes:
South Carolina wore their road black uniforms and Cleveland State wore home whites. … Micaiah Henry went 1-4 from the free throw line for his first point as a Gamecock. … Freshman Trae Hannibal only played eight minutes, but they were memorable. In one sequence he chased down a Viking to block a transition layup from behind. Leveque swatted away the putback attempt, and Hannibal drove for a layup on the other end. Hannibal finished with four points and three rebounds. … South Carolina only shot 39.5 percent in the second half, and 37.8 for the game. … Maik Kotsar had five points and a career-high 12 rebounds, surpassing his previous career-high of 11 set against Lander his freshman season. … Jair Bolden had 12 points and three assists. … Tre Gomillion led Cleveland State with 18 points. … Jalyn McCreary has strep throat and missed two days of practice last week. He was scoreless in seven minutes and missed a wide-open dunk. … Cleveland State coach Dennis Gates was impressed by the crowd, and told his team that's a true hostile environment. "It's two minutes left and we're shooting free throws and it's loud!" He was told about the Fowl Shot (free Chick-fil-A if the opponent misses two free throws in the last eight minutes) promotion, and said, "That's what it is? Well I'm not going to tell my guys." … South Carolina’s next game is Tuesday against Boston University.
