November 29, 2020; Kansas City, MO, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks owner AJ Lawson (00) celebrates with owner Jermaine Couisnard (5) after scoring against Tulsa Golden Hurricane during the second half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
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South Carolina basketball had its first win of the year.
Frank Martin and the South Carolina basketball team recovered from a loss at the opening of the season to Liberty to take down the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in the second round of the Hall of Fame Classic. Gamecocks ended the game with a 20-7 run to secure a 69-58 victory.
Gamecocks had a hard time kicking the ball in their first encounter, posting a mark of just 39% as a team, including 17% beyond the hoop. South Carolina regrouped on Sunday, however, with Jermaine Couisnard and AJ Lawson leading. The two guards combined for 37 points on 12 of 23 shots, connecting on eight of the team’s nine three points. Justin Minaya also scored in double figures, scoring 11 points and missing a double-double with nine rebounds.
The shot improved, as did the perimeter defense. After allowing Liberty to hit 11 of their 27 three-point shots, the Gamecocks held Tulsa against just four and made three in 17 attempts. Golden Hurricane hit just 40% of the field, while South Carolina prevented their opponent from adding 60 points.
The Gamecocks’ next clash will be on Saturday, when they will face a second consecutive member of the American Athletic Conference in Houston. Cougars are currently 2-0 in the year, ensuring a ranking of 17 in the last AP vote. The Gamecocks and Cougars met last year at the Colonial Life Arena, with Houston winning the match by scoring 76 to 56. The tip is scheduled for 8 pm, with the confrontation being broadcast by the ESPN family of networks.