Gamecocks keep it closer this time but still fall to Volunteers, 85-73

The South Carolina Gamecocks completed their season series against the No. 1 Tennessee Volunteers with a similar result to the first meeting, coming away with a slightly more respectable 87-73 loss this time around on Wednesday in Knoxville, Tenn.

Admiral Schofield — who else? — got the Gamecocks again, leading the Vols with 21 points as South Carolina failed to get stops when it needed them. Tennessee had five players hit double figures as the versatile Vols shot 49 percent from the floor and made 9 of their 20 3-pointers.

Incredibly, the Gamecocks were also on fire beyond the arc, as they shot an eye-popping 60 percent from distance (14 of 23). But the Vols made up that deficit and then some by making 25 of their 49 2-point field goals. The Gamecocks were also out-rebounded (40 to 33) and Tennessee notched seven blocks.

Newcomer guard Tre Campbell enjoyed his best performance to date, pouring in 19 points to lead the Gamecocks, while Chris Silva put up another double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Hassani Gravett got back in his groove as well, scoring 15 points and making four of his six 3-pointers. A.J. Lawson, South Carolina’s leading scorer and its hottest player of late, was held just out of double figure with nine points.

South Carolina (12-12, 7-4 SEC) is back at home against Texas A&M on Saturday.