The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, January 23, 1996, Page 7, Image 7
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 " ,
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Congratu
Jodie Allen
Jane Marie Davis
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Courtney jjonaia
Misty Gilbert
Betsey Given
Alicia Gobin
Kristy Gorman
Eileen Grana
rolls, Tide
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"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:
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tyson pettigrew The Gamecock
plex, pictured above, was opened ?bs
tall teams will practice there. pla<
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lations New Ii
Lisa Izlar
Wendy Klansek
Megan Kouns
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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
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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
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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
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Center Nate Wilbourne looks to pas
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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
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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.
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