NASHVILLE ― South Carolina basketball coach Lamont Paris gave his head an exasperated shake late within the first half, as one more Auburn soar shot discovered the underside of the web.
He’d seen the Tigers blitz his Gamecocks like this earlier than. And very like final time, it was rapidly obvious that the consequence could be ugly.
Auburn eradicated South Carolina from the 2024 SEC Match quarterfinals 86-55 on Friday at Bridgestone Enviornment. It marked the second time because the starting of February that the Gamecocks (26-7) had taken a thrashing from the Tigers, who gained 101-61 in Auburn (25-7) through the common season.
The lopsided loss represents a real missed alternative for the Gamecocks.
Mississippi State blew the door to the SEC Match championship extensive open for South Carolina by upsetting top-seeded Tennessee earlier than the Gamecocks took the courtroom.
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By the point 20 minutes had ticked off the clock, Auburn had slammed it shut.
Throughout his press convention after a win over Arkansas on Thursday, Paris mentioned it could “be some actual unhealthy karma” for the Tigers to repeat their prolific taking pictures effort from the primary assembly between the 2 groups.
The Tigers did not fairly attain these heights ‒ however they weren’t far off, taking pictures 49.3% from the sector and 47.4% from deep.
Auburn hung 46 first-half factors on South Carolina, making 17 of 35 field-goal makes an attempt.
That despatched the Gamecocks into the locker room down 20. Within the second half, the Tigers moved the present to the opposite finish of the courtroom, the place they stifled South Carolina and erased any potential for a exceptional comeback.
The Gamecocks completed with 28.1% taking pictures from the sector, comfortably their worst effort of the season.
BJ Mack led South Carolina with 14 factors, however he did so by taking pictures an inefficient 3-of-12 from the sector.
South Carolina cannot deal with Auburn’s inside sport
Auburn’s dominance was largely constructed within the painted space, the place it outscored Paris’ staff by 20.
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The catalyst for South Carolina’s demise close to the rim was first-team All-SEC ahead Johni Broome.
Auburn’s star completed with 18 factors and 10 rebounds, even stepping out to sink a pair of 3-pointers.
He was additionally partially accountable for a subpar afternoon from South Carolina freshman phenom Collin Murray-Boyles. With Broome ‒ a member of the SEC’s All-Defensive Workforce ‒ guarding him, Murray-Boyles failed to attain within the double figures for simply the second time because the starting of February.
What’s subsequent for South Carolina basketball
The Gamecocks will now await their March Insanity vacation spot and matchup.
Their first NCAA Match look since a 2017 Last 4 run will probably be formalized through the Choice Present on Sunday (6 p.m. ET, CBS). Earlier than Friday’s motion, ESPN analyst Joe Lunardi had South Carolina listed as a No. 5 seed.
David Eckert covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. E-mail him at deckert@gannett.com or attain him on Twitter @davideckert98.
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