University of South Carolina Libraries
USC E BY BOB ODOM Sports Writer While most Carolina students were enjoying the semester break, USC's basketball team was busy improving its national ranking by winning five games, including a last-second 60-58 victory over Marquette. The Gamecocks not only par ticipated in the first Louisville Classic, which featured two other nationally-ranked teams, Alabama and Louisville, but met several other outstanding teams including highly-respected Texas Tech and then sixth-ranked and undefeated Marquette. Carolina is now ranked 11th by the Associated Press' latest poll and 13th by the United Press In ternational listings. The Gamecocks, who were 4-0 before the break and ranked as high as 13th, saw their record dip to 4-2 as they lost two consecutive games on the road to Indiana and Alabama. Carolina dropped an 84 71 decision to Indiana, a game they were in until the final moments, and then dropped a disappointing two-point decision to Alabama in the opening round of the Louisville Classic. However, Carolina bounced back to trounce Eastern Kentucky 73-58 to claim third place in the tour nament. Even though Carolina failed to win the tournament, it didn't go away empty handed. Brain 'C. LK JAN ALL: Suits Sport C< Wool SI' C.LEM H) WADE HAA asket pset Win 0 r/ Winters' brilliant 28-point per formance against Eastern Ken tucky, plus his fine floor play against Alabama, earned him a spot on the All-Tournnament team. The Gamecocks also received praise from Alabama's Head Coach C. M. Newton. After Alabama defeated Louisville to win the tournament,Newton said, "South Carolina was definitely the team to beat in this tournament. They should have won the whole thing." The Gamecocks, who had per formed impressively against nationally ranked Indiana and Alabama only to come away with losses, were well aware of the need UARY CLEA )ats 2 iirts ars 2for 1 \RPER CO. APTON HOTEL rking ball ver Marqu Carolina's Mark Greiner was the recipient of Aaurice Lucas' chargir foul which proved to be the decisive factoi in the Gamecock victory over Marquetth Carolina ran the cloc to two seconds befor Brian Winters sank th winning basket in th 60-58 thriller. to win all four games inciuaiiig their clash with Marquette if they had any hopes of reaching their season goal of twenty wins. Carolina lashed defending South western Conference champion Texas Tech 81-65, to set the stage for the contest with Marquette. Marquette entered the game with an unblemished 10-0 record and was ranked sixth by both major polls. Carolina went into the contest with a home win streak of 27 consecutive victories. Ironically, the last home game Carolina lost was to Marquette back in 1972. This year's contest featured all the excitement of the game twc IPE RANCE )IUS $1l.00 plus $1** ftte High lig Xlii years ago, plus more. After Carolina had mounted a 32-25 halftime lead, Marquette charged back to knot the game at 45-45 and then take a 51-46 lead before the Gamecocks fought back to take a 58-56 lead. Marquette tied the game at 58-58 and had possession of the ball with 29 seconds left when Mark Griener drew a charging foul from Marquette's Maurice Lucas to give the Gamecocks one last chance Carolina called time out and set the stage for the dramatic finish. As the clock wound down to seven seconds, Winters made his move. He faked to his left, went right and let a 16-foot jump shot go with only its Season two seconds remaining. an ue ball caught was the bottom of the net and the Gamecocks had upset Marquette 60-58. The Gamecocks extended their win streak to five games by defeating Lafayette and Manhattan. Coach Frank McGuire hesitates to single out one person or any single event when he talks about the success of this year's team. "It's just been a team effort. This team couldn't win unless it was an all-out team effort," McGuire said. "Its either been Davis (Nate) or Sherwood (Chuck) coming off the bench to do a tremendous job. When Griener hasn't started he has come off the bench and got some clutch points and rebounds. I am really satisfied with the way these boys have been playing. They have really been battling their guts out." Mike Dunleavy agrees with his coach. "We are together," he said. "We have a lot of confidence in each other and we don't rely on any one man. We are a young team and we have gotten together and we know what we have to do to win and we are doin'g it. Dunleavy added, "It's just been a team effort and every guy on this team has done his part. Nate and Chuck have done an excellent job coming off the bench and Bob Mathias and Alex English are hitting the boards real well. We To Page 11