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Tuesday, January 23,1996 Carolina LARRY WILLIAMS Staff Writer Pride. Enthusiasm. Excitement. Whatever has been missing for over 20 years of South Carolina basketball, look out, Decause it could oe on its way back. In a game that evoked memories of the Frank McGuire days, the Gamecocks ran, shot and passed their way to their ninth victory of the season Saturday against the Alabama Crimson Tide, winning handily, 90-67. Before a raucous sellout crowd of 12,307, USC more than recovered hum a disastrous slump from behind the threepoint arc in previous games. They shot 50 percent, making 11 of 22 shots from bonus land. The Gamecocks had struggled of late, hitting just 5 of 41 (12.2%) three-pointers over the previous two games. Junior Larry Davis, who hit five of the three-pointers against Alabama, was Carolina's leading scorer, pouring in 24 twin fa TKaf fnfal fnr Tlotnc moe qIoa fV?*> game high. USC had a total of five scorers in double figures, including the two freshman standouts from Columbia, BJ McKie and Leonard "Bud" Johnson. The two finished with 17 and 14 points, respectively. "I would think that's the best total game we've played this year.(It was) the best two halves of basketball that we have put back to back in any one game this year," USC head coach Eddie Fogler said after the game. "To win as easily as we did against a quality team like Alabama, you have to play great for almost 40 minutes. I'm not sure we played great; we played very well for nearly 40 minutes." The game sparked local interest because it was the homecoming of former nometown nero Marvin Urange, who I " , BHK fiBSjEHSugg^ The new Basketball/Volleyball Comi fft Mia mihll* Cahaxlau D?*k MIV |#MVIIV WH1UIIH1J DUIII M<l9nuiU Kapf Congratu Jodie Allen Jane Marie Davis /^l 1 1 Courtney jjonaia Misty Gilbert Betsey Given Alicia Gobin Kristy Gorman Eileen Grana rolls, Tide % "I would think that's the best total g< the best two halves of basketball tha one game this year." i * played at Irmo High School. Orange, after winning three state championships at Irmo, opted to go out of state to attend Alabama. McKie, who was a freshman at Irmo when Orange was a senior, played perhaps his best all-around game Saturday, scoring 17 points and knocking down four of seven three-pointers. Orange i finished with 10 points. McKie, who played a total of 35 i minutes, said his team came out focused 1 on both sides of the ball. "I think the i team did a good job of penetrating the < zone and kicking out. We played very unselfish basketball tonight, and it payed ; off." 1 As for any personal duel with his 1 former teammate, McKie said he was i grateful to have the opportunity to play 1 against Orange. "There wasn't any extra motivation, but it was exciting to play } against Marvin. It was just a fun game 1 to play against him." t "I think, putting two halves together, this is the best game we've played so c far," McKie said. "I think it can get even i better." 4 What was feast in the first half for t the Crimson Tide was famine in the c second half. Alabama went cold after a hot first c half, in which they shot 48.4 percent i irom tne neia, including ?-ot-14 Irom 1 three-point range. In the second half, a good shooting seemed foreign to the Tide, a as they shot onlyll-of-39 on field goals r for a 28.2 percentage. Alabama's Eric Washington, who v ag: ^ if J tyson pettigrew The Gamecock plex, pictured above, was opened ?bs tall teams will practice there. pla< >a Kappa Gam lations New Ii Lisa Izlar Wendy Klansek Megan Kouns Shellv Kuzminskv mf w Shonda Mixon Trish Moy Amy Norris Tanya Ott fie Love You! : gets rolli ime we've played this year.flt was) ? it we have put back to back in any 1 Eddie Fogler, men's basketball coach * i finished the first half with 17 points, t only scored six more in the second, j finishing with a team-high 23. t The game began at a whirlwind pace, v as the two teams combined for a total of seven tnree-pointers in the hrst 5:40 of t the first half. Larry Davis connected on v a three-pointer with 14:35 left to give i the Gamecocks a 20-14 advantage. The Gamecocks extended their lead to nine with 13:50 to go in the first half, but Alabama battled back behind the shooting of Washington to deadlock the contest at 31-31 with 7:46 remaining. After the Tide took a 33-31 lead on i Thalamus McGhee shot with 6:08 left, ;he Gamecocks went on a tear, riding the heels of a 14-0 run over the next four ninutes to take a 45-33 lead with 2:02 eft in the half. With three seconds left, Alabama's Washington nailed his fifth trey of the lalf, trimming USC's lead to 48-38 with ;he teams headed to the locker room. In opening the second half, Alabama :losed USC's lead to six when Orange lailed a three-pointer to make the score 19-43 with 18:37 left. It was the closest he Tide would get through the remainder ?f the game. Fueled by Davis, who scored 12 points luring a 26-15 run. the Gamecocks ncreased their lead to 74-53 with 7:49 eft. Extending the margin to as much is 24, USC coasted on to a 90-67 victory ind achieved the SEC's second-best ecord at 4-2. Sophomore guard Melvin Watson, /ho finished with 12 points and five Slew Basketbal Complex open CHIM HIINT Acct Cnnrff. c ?? ngoi. WpUl lO L-UIIVJI gO The University of South Carolina thletics Department showcased the scond of two new athletic facilities iturday from 5 to 7 p.m. The showcase ne atured a ribbon-cutting ceremony and n open house at the new thf isketball/Volleyball Complex adjacent a r the Carolina Coliseum. C01 Many university dignitaries were on md for the event to talk to the public ^01 attendance. Those included Athletics rector Mike McGee, Senior Women's Tli iministrator Laurie Messa and sketball head coach Eddie Fogler. sta McGee was able to lure Foeler to irolina three years ago by promising me n that within three years the university Roi uld build a basketball practice facility, coa :Gee also built the facility to avoid an teduling conflicts with some community ap^ ents that periodically occupy the rolina Coliseum. ^ g "The Athletics Department is excited out the opening of these two new e ilities which should be of great benefit he overall development of our football, sketball, and volleyball programs," ^ Gee said. "As we continue working Wil] rards establishing a championship- add ber athletics program, we look forward proj he opening and utilization of these recl v facilities." The new gym in the facility has an j ervation deck that will serve as a a.? ? for spectators to view the volleyball wmj tma litiates!! lAnnifpr Pnrcpr JW111111V1 1 UJLOV1 Jessica Reilly Michelle Russo Mara Serena Laura Shelley Kara Stovall Jessica Wentworth Laurie Williams ed, 90-67 assists, said last year's 32-point loss to \labama?USC's worst SEC loss ever? vas in the back of his mind heading into he game. 1 remembered that loss tonight, md I wanted to play hard." Watson dso commented on the crowd support he team has received. "The team would ike to give thanks to our crowd because hey were behind us and got us going as veil. They were great." The Gamecocks will have a chance o improve on their best-ever SEC start vhen they play the Mississippi State )?11J rTV!_ rr oA juuuugs wjiiiuiiuw. np-onis r.ov p.m. The lop 25 learns m Ite Associated Press college basketball poll wtlh SI? previous ranking b parentheses. III 1 Massachusetts (1) 2. Kentucky (2) 3. Kansas (4) 4. Connecticut (5) 5. Cincinatti (3) 6. Georgetown (8) 7. Villanova (7) 8. Virginia Tech {11} ; 9. Wake Forest (6) : IV. (JftCU J .jgs -: 11. North Carolina (10) ,12, Memphis (9) 13. Arizona (18) 14. Pen n State (14)' 15. UCLA (13) 16. Michigan (20) 17. Syracuse (12) 18. Clemson (19) 19. Purdue (17) 20. Boston College (24) 21. Auburn (23) 22. Iowa (16) tie Texas Tech (25) 24. Marquette (nr) 25. California (nr) 1/Volleyball for business mes. It will also feature a set of jachers that have a capacity of 1,600. illeyball coach Kim Hudson was on nd and was very excited about the w venue for her team. "The new gym is so much nicer than i Sol Blatt Center, and we really need lice place to play and practice to be npetitive in the SEC," Hudson said. The second floor of the complex oses me coacn s omces tor men's and men's basketball as well as volleyball, e ground floor features a concession nd and an entrance to the new gym. The ground floor also houses a eting hall dubbed The Frank McGuire 3m, after the legendary Gamecock ,ch who led USC to two ACC titles d several NCAA Tournament >earances in the 1970s. Another unique feature of the complex n underground tunnel that connects gym floor to the locker rooms in the iseum. The Basketball/Volleyball Complex the new Football Office Complex in liams-Brice Stadium are two welcome [ltions that will help all athletics jrams at the university in terms of "uiting and the reviewing of game is. Although the facilities will cost t of money, they will turn into more 3 both on the court and on the field. Com Ify< SPR m Ifii I?! ^HR ^ ^F^fl Center Nate Wilbourne looks to pas IHnhnmn ?? ?- ?.?" * ~ niaiMiiia. niiuuuinu win miM ine noi use BRIEFS Staff Reports Both the men's and women's swimming teams fell to Georgia on Saturday at the Carolina Natatorium. The men fell 169-111 while the Lady Gamecocks fell 129-159. The Gamecocks were led by freshman Jimmy Cho who placed first in the 100 meter Flv with a time of 51.32. Another freshman Jon Waldenmayer won the 200 meter Individual Medley with a time of 1:55.89. The Carolina men's relay team finished first in the 200 meter Free Relay with a time of 1:25.60. Another notable performance for the Gamecocks was junior Jay Telford who placed second in both the 100 meter Free and the 500 meter Free. The Lady Gamecocks also lost their match but had some good performances despite the setback. Freshman Michelle Suozzi, who I captured victories in both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events led the Lady Gamecocks. < Junior Charlene Miller took first 1 place in the 200 meter Fly and second in thp inn motor ITkr Vorni Uornnn 1 . -ww x ij . xxv/ix j x QJL gqj J in the 100 meter Free and Susie Stark 1 in the 200 Breast also finished first I Both the men's and women's ] swimming teams will now prepare ] KSB e join our st ou are interested in working on a fast-paced college newspaper staff, come to the Gamecock newspaper's ING INTEREST MEETIh TUESDAY, JANUARY 23 in RHUU Room 305 @ 6 p.m. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24 in RHUU Room 305 @ 0 p.m. 1 JSP JULIE WILSON The Gamecock s during Saturday's game versus it two games with an injury. for the SEC Championships to be held on February 7 to 10 in Knaxville, Tennessee. ; Junior guard Larry Davis became USC's first-ever SEC Men's Basketball Player of the Week this week. Davis scored 46 points and pulled down 13 rebounds in victories over Vanderbilt and Alabama. Davis poured in 16 second-half points against Vandy and hit a game-winning jumpshot in overtime with 24 seconds left. Davis scored 11 of his game-high 24 points in a three-minute span against Alabama, leading the Gamecocks to their largest margin of victory in SEC play. Davis's 18.4 points a game leads the Gamecocks and ranks fourth in the SEC. He leads the conference in free-throw percentage with an 84.6 percent success rate. TTQP. pnnfnr Mofn ..-111 ? VViilA^l iiaic TT 11UUU1 11C Will miss his next two games with a severe sprain of the right ankle which occurred in the first half of Saturday's victory over Alabama. Wilbourne's 14.3 points per game and teamleading 6.4 rebounds per game will toe sorely missed against Mississippi State and standout center Errict Dampier, as well as against the highoowered offense of Kentucky. # affi 'G ^B3nRtOCR . V