University of South Carolina Libraries
men • connnucD PRom 8 the Gamecocks pounced on the Wildcats, and after four minutes, USC began a 15-0 run, making the score 58 46. Soon after, Kentucky responded with a 15-1 run of their own to take a 66-62 lead with 6:30 to go. From there on in, the margin of difference was never greater than four. UK center Randolph Morris struggled with foul trouble throughout the game and finished with 12 points in 17 minutes. To compensate, UK’s bench filled in with 28 points. Forward Bobby Perry had 13 crucial points, including a trio of three pointers. The Wildcats were lead by Sparks (14 points, five assists) and guard Joe Crawford (15 points, six rebounds). Rondo, heroics aside, scored only nine points. For the Gamecocks, Tre’ Kelley had 14 points and a team-high five assists. Tisby added 10 points and four rebounds. “It was no secret who was going to get the ball unless Pat Riley showed up .... Like all great players, (Rondo) didn’t give the ball up nor did he give in and he hit the shot.” DAVE ODOM USC Head Coach The loss brought USC’s record to 10-8 overall and 1-4 in the SEC. Carolina plays Florida at home this Wednesday. Odom indicated his team will be up to the challenge. “I really think it’s just as important how you react to a game as is the outcome,” he said. “We need to react the right way.” Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@gwm.sc.edu BRQom • COflTinilED FROfn 8 two of the final three minutes of my indoor soccer team’s playoff game ticked off the clock while we waited on the referees to argue with each other about some meaningless call that was made. Clearly there is nothing wrong with this. I mean, sure we were trying to come from behind with three minutes to go in a playoff soccer game, but it was so much more challenging trying to come from behind with only one minute left. Who needs to actually play soccer for the entire length of a soccer game anyway? I have absolutely no problem with refs officiating in the same league that they play in. Even though twice last year we beat guys who actually ended up officiating our next game, I see no problem with this. I don’t think they would get so caught up in petty things like intramural i basketball games that it would cause them to be biased, they are above that; even though they are the same people who wrote, called, emailed, and facebooked Stephen over a column in the school newspaper. They can’t read a column without dropping a few threatening e-mails, but I am sure they would never intentionally miss a few calls here and there after a team ended their season. That would never happen. Ever. Never. Refs, we appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule of reading comic books and amassing large collections of “The Wizard of Oz” memorabilia to referee our games. And, like Nicole Ritchie in a hotdog eating contest, you do the best that you can. Sometimes it’s just really, horribly bad. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@gwm. sc. edu BRIEFS • COflTIdUED FR0ITI8 .r*-* '*• Mens tennis give strong showing at SEC Indoor Championships The USC men’s tennis squad sent one player to the main draw and another through the consolation bracket to finish the SEC Indoor Championships in Lexington, KY. Yevengy Supeko fell to Eric Claesson of Ole Miss 6-2, 6-1 in the main draw. The sophomore transfer from Texas A&M knocked off Auburn’s Pawel Dilaj in the opening round but couldn’t hold off the 23 rd ranked Claesson in the next. After falling to the No.l seed John Isner Friday, Pedros Rodrigues came back to win both of his matches in the consolation bracket, beating both Pierre Moullion of Mississippi State and Terence Nugent of Auburn 6-4, 6-1. -------1 women • connnueo PRom 8 Sunday’s game, controlled the glass to the tune of a 42 31 rebounding advantage. The win served as a sort of vacation from playing top 25 teams for the Gamecocks, Walvius’ team will return to playing the nation’s elite with a Thursday matchup against No. 7 Georgia. USC’s defense, tops in the SEC in most categories, held the Tide to 28 percent shooting in the game. Eleven of the 12 Gamecocks who saw playing time Sunday logged double-digits on the floor, giving Walvius fresh legs throughout the game. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@gwm.sc. edu AND THEN THERE WERE TWO ... ^Tn^ssociatedPress Pittsburgh’s Jerome Bettis (left) and Seattle’s Shaun Alexander (right) are going to Detriot for Super Bowl XL. Bettis and the Steelers beat Denver 34-17, while Alexander and the Seahawks knocked off Carolina 34-14. Men’s Basketball vs. #2 Florida Wed, Jan 25 @ 8pm Women’s Basketball vs. Georgia Thur, Jan 26 @ 7pm | nrero rnrirn rmfflrcifrirM TOT^rarirai^^