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* 10 Basketbc LARRY WlllAMS Staff Writer The University of South Carolina men's basketball team got what it needed Saturday: a tune-up. In their second and last exhibition game of the season, the Gamecocks beat the Puerto Rico National Team, 89-70, and in the process, got much-needed practice for the start of the regular season, which begins Nov. 25 in Hawaii. "They're (Puerto Rico) a strong, physical team," USC head coach Eddie Fogler said. "I think that was geod for our big people, particularly to play against that type of physical (team)." Puerto Rico came into the game sporting a formidable resume of past opponents. Before Saturday's game, they played nationally-ranked teams down to the wire. They played Utah tough before a narrow, 83-78 loss to the Utes, and followed with an overtime loss to Boston College. The Friday(Nov. 15) before they played USC , the Puerto Ricans beat Seton Hall by 16. Puerto Rico head coach Carlos Morales said, of the teams his squad has faced so far, the Gamecocks impressed McKie lookin JEFF BLOPQETT Staff Writer He's one-third of "Lethal Weapon 3," which many consider if not the best, then one of the best, backcourts in the nation. And one does not have to look far past B.J. McKie to understand why. This sophomore guard established himself as one of the best young guards in the country last year. In doing so, he broke many of USCs freshman rernrds and was named Associated Press SEC Rookie of the Year and to the Freshman Ail-American team. His 15.4 points were second on the team, 10th in the SEC and netted 478 points. : GAA i Help beautif : Law Center ; If you're a cat - T t? ti# rlawt f " Ol ((lit 'C( i I If you're inroi ; /// a campus \ organization.. I If you're a tal I art student... m Aft the pair throui : du ' j ' JtjX m m [ So, submit: i Academic c : course, Oai all your i|J!?i< ; Mural designs I submitted by Jan, ; individuals on ca I Student Goverm House or ; With Student ; Newly Design : 0^ rrttnYnttn ; 1 jmmmmmm. ill team w him the most. 1 "They were the best team we have i played. Utah played without Keith Van Horn and beat us by five," Morales said. "They (USC) are the toughest team we've 1 played, no doubt." 1 The Gamecocks were led by junior j if nr.A ?i-- j . guai u ivieivni vy aison, wno scored a ] game-high 22 points on 8-13 shooting, i "Watson was terrific tonight," Fogler said. "He really played well." 1 After the Puerto Ricans ran to a 10- j 0 lead to open the game, Watson took i charge, scoring eight of USC's first 10 { points to pick up the slack. 1 "I wanted to be a spark plug for my s team," Watson said. "Once I hit my first ] two baskets, I figured I was giving my team a little pep." f Watson said he feels there are still ( a few kinks the Gamecocks need to work 1 out before he's comfortable with their c play. 1 "We struggled a little bit tonight c rebounding the ball, and I think coach t wasn't particularly happy with the way i we rebounded and played one-on-one defense," Watson said. 'In order for our s team to take the next step, we have to ? [g to be a foro This broke future Hall of Famer Alex i English's freshman scoring record. But most importantly he helped lead A the Gamecocks to a 19 and 12 record and on a trip to the NIT. t Awards and winning are nothing new to McKie. j While in high school at Irmo right ? here in Columbia, he led his-team to an i impressive 101 and 10 record. In his senior season he lead his team j to the AAAlA South Carolina State e championship. Scoring only 42 points in the I championship game. ? His many awards in high school include being named to the Parade Nike, c National AAU and Street & Smith's All *aint Your (\?COCK S?li y the tunnel conn< and the Carolina ( in* Your i< Prop o: re(l wanted Tui . Beauti enteu Pro itittg supplies will cjfi special funds de Student Governm need is you ( your themes coi ir Social life an tiecock symbols [: Spirit! along with an action pic nary of 1997. We invite c mpus to get involved by c >mnt office at 777-2654 ii contact your Student Sei involvement and I ed Tiunnel will be vi Spring of 1997/ 1J J V E R S t T V O H SOUTH0ROL1NA SPO ins, now aecome better defensively ? there's no ifs, ands or buts about it." After Ryan Stack tied the score at 18, at the 11:19 mark of the first half, [JSC outscored the opposition 30-18 to :ake a 48-36 lead into halftime. Stack, who scored 14 points and pulled down seven boards, gave perhaps lis best effort yet as a Gamecock. "Stack has made a dramatic jump brward here," Fogler said of the 6-11 unior from Chapmansboro, Tenn., who averaged 4.2 points and 2.7 rebounds a jame last season". "He's playing with a ot more confidence and a lot more strength, and thafs a real boost for our irogram." Fogler also praised the play of reshmen Herbert Lee Davis and Antonio 5rant, who combined for 13 points. Perhaps a glimpse of the future was iffered by the two when, with 33 seconds eft in the game, Grant lofted an alley)op pass to Davis, who slammed the ball hrough the net and put the crowd on ts feet. The jam was the culmination of a second-half in which the Gamecocks illowed the Puerto Ricans to get no closer e for Gamecc American teams. He also considered Tennessee. Florida. in must be I ill groups and ontacting the ; n the Russell I m nator. eativity tfie J sible in the ? M : 3?, : ; ,mmmmmmmmmmmhm Virginia and Clemson. But he decided to come to USC jecause they were on the rise. "I feel that USC was an upcoming jrogram, and I believe in Coach Fogler md his staff, and I think they believe n me," McKie said. Even though he had a great year last rear, he is still working hard to improve, ispecially on defensive end. Tm an average defensive player and can get a whole lot better," he said ifter the Puerto Rico game. But most of all, he wants to improve >n the team's 19 and 12 record. "Some of my expectations are to make ml 2ctine the : Coliseum! : leas and sals are : I Sor the i nnel Eication ject!! j be provided signated by' ent. AtC we ir time and I mthusiasm! ncerning | id, of s to show: RTS I.. reauy tur than 12 points. USC took its largest lead of the game when Stack sank a five-foot hook shot to put the Gamecocks up 8262 with 3:33 left. USC begins its regular season in the Maui Invitational at Lahaina, Hawaii a week from today. Their first opponent will be the Virginia Cavaliers ,(4:30 p.m. EST), with possible match-ups looming against UMASS, Chaminade, Kansas, LSU, California(Berkeley) and Iowa. Instead of playing weaker opponents to begin the season, as has been the case in recent years, USC will be thrown into the fire, and will quickly have a good idea of just how competitive they can be after playing powerhouses in Maui. "It's an outstanding tournament," Fogler said. "(And) tonight was a good tune-up for us." Sophomore guard BJ McKie, who notched 14 points on 4-9 shooting Saturday, said a competitive game against Puerto Rico was expected. "We knew coming in that it wasn't going to be an easy game, (that) they were not going to be a pushover team. They know the game very well." >cks this year the NCAA Tournament and contend for the SEC Championship," McKie said. With himself, Larry Davis and Melvin Watson in the backcourt, his expectations are not far fetched. But with all the talk of being one of the best backcourts in the country also comes pressure. "We know the pressure is there, but I don't think we feel it," he said. With the numbers McKie put up last year, he has established himself as one of the best guards in the SEC, just like Davis and Watson. With the three in the backcourt, McKie's dream of making the NCAA Tournament just may come true. Mi jfrafr Thorton in town to 1 senior December 4th ai Sig Student. This is have yoi proj photoi t Maui Inv Game Notes Red-shirt freshman Hagen Rouse suffered a stress fracture in his right foot in practice and will miss three weeks of action. Rouse could return to the lineup in time for Carolina's games in the Harris Teeter Pepsi Challenge, Dec. 6-7, in Charlotte. Fogler said he hopes forward William Wzm m Mm m ^3HhBL W tuiiui ^jj!^ L 9H- - t* Sophomore Ryan Stack will chal at the small forward with the g Gamecocks next hit the hard wc anfcivl d??lSTi 1PM iios from New Y01 photograph USC' s and graduate sti Portraits will be taken nrl Rth in rnnm 9911 nf tl wm mmm - w w WbW W ?l n up for an appointmei Media, Russell House F your last ci ur picture i cessional st grabbers u sitting Monday, November 18, 1996 Rational Gallman, who was injured last week, will be back in practice Tuesday. Women's Results The Lady Gamecocks' basketball tpfim siifffirpd a 67-62 sethark tn f!as?wi? Kosice, of Slovakia, Saturday. The Lady Gamecocks were led by sophomore guard Nikki Miars, who scored 17 points in 35 minutes. ROBERT WALTON The Gamecock llengo for playing time this year iraduatlon of Malik Russell. The tod on Nov. 27 against Virginia. trab iM$ rk City will be s graduating idents. . he Russell House. it in loom 331. fiance to f-Is /iv? l%/%i luivcu uy udio ith no i a ? 1