The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, January 26, 1998, Page 6, Image 6

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Defense, key in G. asst. sports editor NATHAN BROWN In a way, this has been a season of surprises for USC basketball. Surprisingly, the No. 14 Gamecocks (13-3, 52 SEC) have already lost two games in a conference they were picked to win 1* il _ _x. _ -A n 11 ueiore me start or me season. It's also hard to believe that with two of the SEC's best guards returning from last year, USC has relied on a tough, hard-nosed defense and prolific scoring from their bench to win games. As amazing as it may seem compared to last year's team, or as prag P^^: Senior Ryan Stack had five points an Part-Tirr Posi Wage: $7.1 Hours: Informatior Tuesd Location: I Title: Duties: Application Procedure: bench sc amecocle matic as it is for this year's, the Gamennn\ra unfit fVioii* rlnfonoo onrl knnnh vwvAkU) TT A VAX W1XUA1 UVAVAiUV/ UUU UU1IV1A scoring, won 61-56 for the first time in Auburn since joining the SEC in 1992. "Thank goodness for our defense," USC head basketball coach Eddie Fogler said. "Our defense once again, outside the first three minutes with Bryant Smith going off, was terrific here. The other thing that really pleases me here [is that] I've never seen our bench better. A couple of young men who didn't play here tonight were as motivated and enthusiastic as I've ever seen them. And that is rubbing off on our en* ? / ' I 1 BRYAN JOHNSTON The Gamecock j d four rebounds Saturday. ( I MUblue SI ie Team Hnnc A\/ai uvyi I\j / \ v mi 50-$8.00 per Houi ? H?*? **? Mon-Fri 6:00pm-9:3 ? a o n r- - i, rtppiiuaiiun ot rie-crii). Aptitude Screening lay, January BA Building, Time: 2pm Team Assistant Key entry of insurance I I. ..1 i /!_! X I iviusi De proncieni ana keyboard with strong v skills. Must type 40wp Sign Up @ Career Cer On-Campus Interviewi By Monday, January 2 :oring ?' victon tire team. I think we are truly comi together as a team. I think that is v< important." An - * n 1: 1 i. ?l- oi aa a ucaiii, vmuiiiia siiut umy O percent from the field and an excell< 82.4 percent from the foul line. But t most remarkable offensive percei age was that USC's bench account for 44.3 percent of the Gamecocks' tal points. Carolina had 27 points fit their bench compared to only two i the Tigers. Coming off the bench to lead t Gamecocks in scoring for the seco consecutive game was LeRon Willian who knocked in 14 points while pk ing only 17 minutes. Williams w the integral force that gave Caroli; their first lead eight minutes and seconds into the game when he scor six out of eight USC points. Williams, however, wasn't the c ly threat from the bench. Herbert L Davis stepped up from a non-starti role to score 11 points and to quell flurry of 3-pointers by hitting one of 1 own. About five minutes into the se ond half, USC found themselves in see-saw battle of 3-pointers with Aubu and up by only five points. Davis hit three that was the catalyst of an 8 run that provided Carolina with th< largest lead of the game, 10 point Despite the strong play of Williar and Davis, the Gamecocks were rath flat on offense, missing 11 out of the last 12 shots and thus had to rely < their defense to secure the victory. T1 defense came up big at the end of tl game by holding the Tigers to one-fc 11 from the floor in the last six mi: utes. "If we're in a drought like that c the road, we've got to play great defen and make them have die same droughi Bj Mckie said. "If your offense isnt ther you have to win the game in other way You'd better be able to play good, har nosed defense." Overall, USC held Auburn to 39 percent from the field and forced 1 turnovers. "I think we're tougher on defens tougher even than last year," Mck said. Next up for the Gamecocks will 1 the Furman Paladins when USC heac do Lrreenvine, a.u. tonight tor a /:d p.m. tip-off. The last meeting betwee Lhese two teams saw Carolina win 1(X 32 in Columbia. MBD assistant liable r to start Wt?T ??**", 7 Opm )loyment 27th , RM 602B claims. accurate on vritten and verbal >m minimum. iter ng Board 6th. ing HSr ill $!?> >% it- lr^ ' HI iy~ LJ8 ed i?s?i i?8r C2lf!llf n" Gamecock players (from left to right) William Gallr ee Hagen Rouse enjoy a lighter moment in the game Sat ^ The Paladins will be without their leads the series 68. second-leading scorer from last year the Paladins hav 118 due to graduation. But center Chuck 23. ^ Vincent, last season's leading scorer The Furman a a (16.2 ppg) and rebounder (9.7 rpg), re- end of a long weel m turns along with three other starters. Carolina, startii 'a This will be the first time that Fur- against Tenness *3 man coach Larry Davis faces USC. But Wednesday again iir USC and Furman are not strangers played four games :s- to one another as this will be the 120th "It's very tirii 118 time these two teams have met. USC time, you have to 1 er iir iWalvieball fall >rstaff writer 10* QUINW >n Karyn Karlin scored 20 points to lead Arkansas over se South Carolina 86-67 Saturday in a Southeastern Cont," ference game. ?, Nikki Miars led South Carolina (9-10,1-7 SEC) with rs. 23 points. d- Arkansas (14-5, 4-3 SEC) made 27-of-34 free throws in a game that had 55 turnovers. The teams were tied at 6 31 at the half. 2 The Lady Razorbacks outscored Carolina 55-36 in the second half to secure the victory. e> Arkansas pulled away as three South Carolina starters ie fouled out. The Razorbacks shot 49 percent for the game to 38 per^ cent for the Lady Gamecocks. Is Up next for South Carolina is Vanderbilt. USC will '0 play at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Nashville. n Carolina upset the then-No. 6 Lady Commodores on Jan. 14 at Frank McGuire Arena. 1 % A ^ Come see < b, > I 1 student ? J /zfloe to c HTt 1 BBfl i 1/1 For informatiof Iml J l__ or stop 1 ^pf Campus Acti Sponsored by the Campus Activities Center Departmen i im ' ^ i a BRYAN JOHNSTON The Gamecock nan, David Ross, Bud Johnson, George Formanek and tiirrlav. namsey i-i u-z Z points Godfrey 3-7 0-2 9 points Half: 31-all Rebounds: USC 40 (Williams 10), Arkansas 38 (2 with 6) Fouls: USC 29, Arkansas 19 Assists: USC 12. Arkansas 18 Attendance: 6,330 Officials: Dean, Novak, Day mmmmm wmmm hat over 260 m yanizations ! , ffer you! r~A i i call 777-5780 7k. j t by the vities Center. t of Student Life Division of Student & Alumni Services 52, but in Greenville, ie said. "If you want to be the best that e the advantage 31- you want to be, youH have to get through those games no matter what. No matrntest comes near the ter if you're fatigued, mentally or physc for the Gamecocks, ically, you're going to have to play lg last Wednesday through fatigue because great teams ee and ending this play through fatigue. We're just going st Florida, will have to have to go out and give it our all Mon3 in seven days. day and come back on Wednesday and ? 1 i. _i. i-T- _i ii i i r\ ii ig, uui ai me same piay gooa, nara-nosea LxamecocK Dasjeep on going," Mck- ketball." s at Arkansas Arkansas 86, South Carolina 67 At Fayetteville, Ark. South Carolina Williams 7-23 1-2 15 points Carr 1-5 0-0 2 points White 1-1 2-2 4 points Miars 9-20 4-8 23 points Lester 4-10 2-2 10 points Lee 0-0 2-4 2 points