The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, January 17, 1994, Page 12, Image 12

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Gamecocks By TONY SANTORI Sports Editor USC ? After 39 minutes and 59 seconds of a seesaw affair, the men's basketball team succumbed to the Florida Gators in the last, seemingly endless second. The game finished 77-75 after many of the nearly 8,000 patrons had headed for the Coliseum exits, the result apparendy already decided. Following a bizarre turn of events, USC ended up with one final chance for victory but was unable to get off a shot as time expired. Both teams played shaky early, possmiy because they were nervous about playing before a national television audience. After eight minutes of play, the score stood at 13-10 in the Gators favor. However, a dunk by senior forward Emmett Hall capped a USC spurt and put the Gamecocks up by five, 25-20, with about seven minutes left in the half. Florida then pulled even at 25, and the two squads traded baskets until the three-minute mark, when the score was tied at 30. USC took momentum and the lead into the locker room at halftime. The Gamecocks reeled off a ninepoint run to end the half, capped by a long three-pointer by point guard Durrant Williams following a loose ball scramble. The freshman picked up the ball, checked the game clock and launched a 23-footer that found the bottom of the basket as the buzzer sounded. The Gamecocks had a balanced attack in the first half and were led by Hall's 10 points and Jamie Watson's nine. Watson added four assists and four rebounds in the first 20 minutes. The Gators began the second half by chipping away at the Gamecocks' lead. Florida cut it down to a 49-44 USC lead with 15 minutes to play. That is when things began to sour for USC. Seven possessions led to zero points for the Gamecocks. During the same four: minute span, Florida reeled off 14 points and jumped in front by nine before a tip-in by Hall stopped the garnet bleeding. Florida held its lead steadily and was ahead 66-55 with seven minutes left. The Gamecocks then began their final assault on the Gators with a seven-point run. The final three points of the run came on a threepointer by junior forward Andy Bostic, who missed his initial attempt but got a second opportunity when Hall rebounded and passed back to him at about the saine spot on the floor where he launched the first ^1 Score by halves 1st 2nd Final Florida 30 47 77 use 39 36 75 Florida USC Field goal percentage 50 50.8 Three point percentage 43.8 33.3 Free throw percentage 76.2 80 Chris Muldrow/The Gamecock ^ l"h:s program was paid for, in part, by student activities fees. People needing special assistance for disabilities, ^[_gleasej?ntact_the Carolina Program Union at 777-7130 ~~~ OFF CAMP & CONVENII Park Cixle - Ample Parking - Indoor Workout Room/Outdc Plaza Center - In Five Points - Each Apartment Has Own Pa Semester Leases Ava Deane Chavous V_i-> 1600 Park Circle Si L, 256-3111 Spoi lose in wild shot. This time, he was true. Following a Florida free throw, Hall got another offensive rebound and stuck it back to trim the lead to three. The Gators responded with a free throw and a long Wxr Pmin I^r/An/n that nut T^lrvrirla lin hv cpv UUtt uy VvKUi; UIW*?1I uiui |yui A iviiwu UUVIV up k>j .<v . en. Two more free throws by Dan Cross made it a nine-point lead for Florida with 75 seconds left and led many USC fans to believe the game was over. Andy Bostic had different ideas. Bostic drilled an off-balance jumpshot from behind the three-point line and was fouled on the play. He converted the free throw, and the Florida lead was down to five with 41 ticks left on the clock. Cross added a foul shot for Florida, but Watson responded with a 10-footer. Cross again made one of two free throws, and Watson scored again with 15 seconds left. Brown hit a pair of free throws to boost it to a five-point Gator lead. Watson managed to hit a three, but only one second remained on die clock, and chances for a USC comeback looked slim. The arena clock operator then drew attention to himself when a botched inbounds pass by Florida went out of bounds. Amazingly, no time expired on the scoreboard. The officials and coaches huddled, and the ball was USC's with one second left. No miracles were left however, and a Florida defender knocked the inbounds pass away. This time, the clock ticked, sending the Gators home happy. Gamecock coach Eddie Fogler said the Gamecocks had a designed play set up for the final shot. "We had a double screen set up for Andy Bostic," Fogler said. "We hoped he could catch it. throw it up, and you hope it goes in." Despite the loss, Fogler said his team put forth an admirable effort. "I think our team tried hard today," Fogler said. Watson led USC with 24 points. Hall added 20 points and 11 rebounds, and Bostic contributed 14 points. Brown paced the Gators with 20 points. Andrew DeClercq added 18 points, including 14 in the second half, and Dan Cross scored 15 and dished out a gamehigh eight assists. With the loss, USC falls to 1-2 in the SEC and 4-8 ? ii r,t.,-i^i? l,-ww 1 o ?lv/\ CUP T7r\.->* tiiitK o ^ ror/"M71 overall, riotlua itdu> nit ol<v^ l>clm wiui ? j-v iwvmu and is 13-2 overall. Team leaders Florida Points Andrew DeClercq 18 10 rebounds Craig Brown ;i: 20 4 rebounds Dan Cross 15 8 assists USC Points Emmett Hall 20 11 rebounds . ii Jamie Watson 24 4 assists Andy Bostic 14 Source: USC Sports Information OBI Wits #7773 Columbia's Home Of 1 Thurs., Jan. 20 Moj Sat., Jan. 22 The Tai Thurs., Jan. 27 East Talent Search (1st F Tues.- Fri. 4pm-'1 mmm Shrimp/Oyster Specials I 2005 BELT] to Locally Owned And Ope UMi )or jacuzzi PHSHLmi If you're in the dark aboi , . birth control, you bett rk,n8 Parenthood offers con #| , services to help protect LllclblC before you get hurt, get PPIannec 256Off Forest Drive, 1/2 mile Saturday, Lunchtime & rts finish to FIoi ^ppP';-. jjMBH ^ ~ I sliit:- v 1If" pi ^K >i^P?F 1 |BE^L, | ?.JgHr Jt^fc ! * iH HANGING AROUND: Junior Andy Bostic slain duil rno..m0 ^ti/^n ot 7-^H n m WpHn^dnv :il End"]|H ooBehfine |?Mm 3each, Boogie & Blues Xoast Blues vOUIld) (call for more details) 151 GUI HI Sat. 7pm-'Til CLUBS An [ightly beach act )aily During Happy Hour CM LINE BLVD. 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