John Petty Jr. was not going to let another escape to Alabama.
Crimson Tide, ranked 11th, was coming out of his first loss at the Southeast Conference of the season last Saturday and was in a tight match with the irritating and determined South Carolina.
Behind Petty’s 20 points and three points out of 3, they recovered from their loss to No. 10 Missouri with an 81-78 victory over the Gamecocks on Tuesday night.
“I would do anything to win,” said Petty.
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It took almost all the points he managed to score while the Gamecocks (5-8, 3-6 SEC) recovered from 78-70 in the last four minutes to reduce to 79-78 with 2 seconds remaining.
But James Rojas preserved the victory with two free kicks to maintain Alabama’s best league season in more than six decades. Crimson Tide (16-5, 11-1) won their sixth consecutive time over Gamecocks.
“We have something special going on this year and we are very motivated,” said Petty.
With South Carolina losing 79-76, coach Frank Martin said he made a move with three 3-point draw options. Instead, Jermaine Couisnard connected with Justin Minaya for an undisputed tray.
Gamecocks were forced to miss Rojas, who made his free throws.
“Instead of doing what we asked to do, it just kind of … no mental connection to the situation,” said Martin.
AJ Lawson led South Carolina with 21 points, making five out of 3 points.
Gamecocks had their chances. Wildens Leveque leveled at 59 with 11:11 before Alabama moved on with Jaden Shackelford’s tray in possession of the next ball. Jahvon Quinerly extended the lead with a jumper.
The Gamecocks scored back in 65-64 in Lawson’s 3-point basket and a shot from Bryant. But Petty, the team leader made 3s, hit another behind the hoop and South Carolina failed to rally, losing for the third time in their last four games.
Alabama, which was 22 points behind Missouri before losing 68-65, lost to South Carolina 16-5, with less than five minutes to go.
That’s when Petty and Joshua Primo’s long-range shot put Alabama back in the running. Primo, a six-foot-eight freshman, added seven points combined in his last three games with just one of three points. This time, he hit three of his team’s six 3s in the first 20 minutes and scored 10 points at halftime.
Quinerly finished with 13 points for Tide, while Petty added eight rebounds, two blocks and a steal.
BIG PICTURE
Alabama: The Crimson Tide showed courage and depth while building considerable leadership at the SEC. It will be difficult for the top scorers in Missouri and Tennessee, both with six league wins, to lose with just six games remaining. Alabama won their last regular season title in 2002.
South Carolina: Seventh Woods had problems in both halves and, without the firm hand of the North Carolina transfer, South Carolina struggled to find open kicks.
MANY TURNOVERS
Alabama had the 22 worst losses of the season after coming in with an average of less than 14 per game. Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats wants this to improve, “but it is also good to win a game played,” he said.
LOSS
Oats said striker Juwan Gary suffered a shoulder injury that would be reassessed when the team returned to campus. Gary fell heavily on the court, making faces and screaming in pain before being taken to the locker room. Oats said it was disappointing for Gary, who is from Columbia and had a family in the stands.
NEXT
Alabama face Georgia at home on Saturday.
South Carolina hosts Mississippi on Saturday night.