The South Carolina Gamecocks turned in a smoother performance than their last outing, but still hit a couple bumps in the road in an 80-64 win over Wyoming.
The first half saw the Gamecocks operating in fits and starts, with a four-plus minute scoring drought being a low point, but they got the offense back on track enough to build a 35-25 halftime lead. The Cowboys didn’t go quietly in the second half, though. They pulled within four, 37-33, aided by some sloppy play and defensive lulls from South Carolina, but the Gamecocks answered with a 21-6 run to put the game out of reach.
The Gamecocks’ frontcourt stole the show. Chris Silva, bedecked in a Batman nose mask after an injury at practice, led the Gamecocks with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Felipe Haase enjoyed his most productive game yet, racking up 17 points and nine rebounds, and showing a little range with three 3-pointers. Frank Booker chipped in 16 points, making three 3-pointers to continue to stand out as the team’s perimeter threat, and Justin Minaya added 11 points.
Coach Frank Martin still wasn’t happy with the effort, once again shouldering blame for sloppy play. While the Gamecocks out-rebounded Wyoming 43-34 and shot 45% from the field, South Carolina was only 16 of 29 from the free-throw line and went through some lengthy, disjointed stretches that allowed the Cowboys to hang around.
Martin: "There's been more blood on the court in the last two days than in my first five years here." And that will continue.
— David Cloninger (@DCPandC) December 7, 2017
Uh...yikes.
Up next: South Carolina finishes off its three-game homestand against Coastal Carolina at noon on Saturday.