COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – It was by no means going to be simple. A historic season has come to an finish as 6-seed South Carolina falls to Pac-12 champion Oregon Geese within the first spherical of the NCAA Match.
The sport stayed shut early within the first half. Three back-to-back threes, from Jacobi Wright and Meechie Johnson introduced the result in with 8 minutes left within the half. A fast 5-0 run from former Gamecock Jermaine Couisnard introduced the result in 1.
Whereas South Carolina struggled to attain late within the second half, Oregon took management. The Geese went on an 11-0 run with a minute and a half left within the first, capped off by a free throw by N’Faly Dante.
A halfcourt buzzer-beating three by Ta’lon Cooper introduced the Oregon lead down to five, giving Oregon a 34-29 lead on the half.
South Carolina struggled to attain your entire first half. The Gamecocks shot 32.1 p.c from the sphere whereas Oregon shot 61 p.c. Whereas scoring for the Gamecocks turned simpler within the second, the Geese ended the sport taking pictures a blistering 59 p.c.
Oregon took management early within the second half extending a five-point result in 10 with 16 left to play. N’Faly Dante was one of many primary catalysts for Oregon’s second-half run. The Duck’s chief in factors scored 8 early within the half, together with a monster alley-oop dunk by N’Faly Dante.
An enormous three by Couisnard gave Oregon a 14-point lead simply 5 minutes into the second half.
Oregon led by as a lot as 18 within the second half. South Carolina reduce the lead down to 10 with 5 minutes remaining, nevertheless, one other three by Couisnard helped hold the lead at 13.
South Carolina fought onerous like they’ve been all season, bringing the Oregon lead all the way down to 11 in the course of the dwelling stretch. However it wasn’t sufficient. The Gamecocks fell to Oregon 85-73 within the first spherical of the NCAA Match.
Junior guard Meechie Johnson performed properly within the first-round matchup, ending the sport with 24 factors, and making massive photographs to maintain the staff inside hanging distance. The staff chief in factors seemed to bounce again after struggling within the SEC Match, averaging simply 4.5 factors on 20 p.c taking pictures.
B.J. Mack, the staff’s second-leading scorer, began to get scorching within the second half earlier than fouling out late within the sport. The ahead shot 4-11 within the sport, ending the sport with 13 factors together with 8 within the second half.
Second-team All-SEC Ta’Lon Cooper helped hold the Gamecocks within the sport along with his scoring presence, scoring 15 factors together with 3 threes within the sport.
South Carolina confronted a well-recognized face in Thursday’s matchup. Senior guard Jermaine Couisnard, who performed for the Gamecocks for his first 4 years, dominated his former staff. Couisnard scored 40 factors, hitting powerful photographs all through the sport. His 40 factors have been essentially the most factors by an Oregon participant within the NCAA Match.
Couisnard has been some of the impactful gamers on the Geese this season. The guard is second on the staff in scoring at 15.4 factors per sport, additionally main the staff in assists and steals.
The staff’s main scorer, N’Faly Dante, completed the sport with 23 factors on simply two missed photographs.
South Carolina was going through the chances of being a 6-seed. Practically 39% of 11s knock off the 6-seed they’re matched up with within the opening spherical of the NCAA Match.
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