MBB: Tennessee shoots down South Carolina
Tennessee dominated the second half to pull away for an 81-57 win over South Carolina.
South Carolina held its own in the first half and trailed just 33-29 at the break. Erik Stevenson hit a pair of threes early in the second half as South Carolina pulled within one point with 16:23 to play. But Tennessee dominated for nearly the next eight minutes to turn the game into a rout.
Zakai Zeigler, who had yet to score, hit back-to-back three and then a layup, all in transition, as part of a 10-0 run. Stevenson made a pair of free throws, and then Tennessee scored the next six points. In all, Tennessee held South Carolina to just one basket over an eight-minutes span and outscored the Gamecocks 27-6.
“That little run they had in the second half when Zeigler had back-to-back threes on the left wing in transition off our turnovers, you can’t give a team like that too many easy looks,” Stevenson said. “They burn them when they’re open. That was the game right there, that eight-minute stretch in the second half.”
Tennessee hit five three-pointers during the run, and finished the game 14-27 from behind the arc. It was tied for the best shooting game of the season and three behind the season-high for threes made in a game.
“In the second half they made a run of threes on deflating plays. You can’t throw them the ball ten times,” Martin said. “Give Zeigler credit. He turned the game there and he turned the game here.”
Zeigler tied his career-high with 18 and hit a career-high four threes. He was one of four Vols in double figures, led by Josiah-Jordan James, who had a career-high 20 points. James started fast, scoring 11 in the first seven minutes. Kennedy Chandler tied his career-high with 10 assists and added 11 points.
South Carolina had just two players in double figures, Stevenson and Devin Carter, who each scored 13. South Carolina got a total of 11 points from James Reese, Keyshawn Bryant, and Jermaine Couisnard. They combined to shoot just 4-14. As a team, South Carolina shot just 31.5% and 26.3% from three.
“We need to hit open shots,” Carter said. “We’re getting looks we want. It comes down to us hitting shots at the end of the day.”
Tennessee only shot 42.9%, but it was enough for an easy win because the Vols got all the hustle points. The Vols had 11 offensive rebounds but got 18 second chance points. The Gamecocks had two second chance points and only ten offensive rebounds. The Vols had 17 points off 13 Gamecock turnovers, while the Gamecocks got just six points off eight turnovers. Martin pointed to the turnovers and the easy baskets that followed as deflating plays that led to the second half fade.
“I couldn’t ask our guys to prepare better than they did coming in and that’s why we played the way we did in the first half,” Martin said. “We had deflating plays in the second half.”
Notes:
Prior to the game a moment of silence was held for former Gamecock Cheslie Kryst. … As part of Block History Month, I.S. Leevy Johnson was honored before the game. He was the first black graduate of the South Carolina School of Law. … Gamecock great Chris Silva was recognized during a second half timeout. His Miami Heat play in Charlotte Saturday night. … South Carolina wore warm-up shirts celebrating 50 years of Title IX. … Ta’Quan Woodley was back with the team, but had not practiced and did not play. … Josh Gray did not play with a fractured wrist suffered against Mississippi State. … South Carolina’s next game is Tuesday against Kentucky.
