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MCKIE'S MARCH F001 Senior BJ McKie remains Melvi only 109 points behind Alex and ? English as Carolina's all-time name scoring leader. Fresh Stay tuned for McKie's was a march into the record Footb books. All-Ai ^1onday^anuary^l^99^^^^^^^ Mpii's wr JLTJL^JLJL KSJ T T \ Tennessee pom remain winless a by David Cloninger Senior Writer It wasn't such a happy holiday for the South men's basketball team, as they lost seven of nil and plummeted to the cellar of the Southeaster! ence. The Gamecocks are the only SEC team witl record, and their streak of two straight 20-win sea NCAA tournament appearances may be in seri ardy. USC 57, Tennessee 86 The Gamecocks (5-9,0-3 SEC) headed to Knox Saturday, looking to snap a two-game losing skic the Tennessee Volunteers (10-4,2-1 SEC). As US( off the bus, the players were greeted by temper the mid-20s. But if they thought that was cold, th< have waited to see their shooting percentage (32.7 at the end of a game that saw them get destroye "This is depressing," said BJ McKie, who with a team-high 16 points. "This team has to pis with more pride and heart than we played tonighl thing to lose, but it's another to lay down and ju _ l i n i 1_ _ _ _ _ give up ... we mignt as wen not even nave come o second half." For the most part of the first stanza, the game v Carolina led the first five minutes of the contest ar by only four with 1:53 left in the half. But then went on a 9-0 scoring tear, giving them a 13-point lead and, more importantly, the game's momenti "I think it was a shock," said USC Coac Fogler. "[The players] got knocked in the jav much got knocked out, and never recovered. And just pretty much scrambled around out there." USC 61, Kentucky 68 The Gamecocks came into Frank McGuire Are day night in front of a sellout crowd and a nation television audience. The No. 6 Wildcats faced a dating atmosphere and various heckles from the but still managed to hold off a tough Carolina sqi Wildcats were led by senior Ail-American Scott who scored 19, and Michael Bradley with 14. Tb cocks had no answer to the dominant inside gam tucky, but managed to hold their own with playing nior BJ McKie, who scored a season-high 31 poii almost flawless shooting night. McKie was 7-of-9 field, as well as 5-of-6 from the 3-point stripe. He 12-of-14 on free throws, as well as I dishing out assists to E Aaron Lucas, who I added 10 points. I Kentucky was held back by fouls against I its key players, but I won going away to restore its confidence after consecutive losses to Duke and IgiJfl to Starkville to face a 4 surprising 11-2 Bull- JtffS dog team in the first weekend of SEC action. The Gamecocks started out shooting a I miserable 21 percent, and fell behind 16-2 I before they finally started their real game. I The Gamecocks were spurred on by senior I center Bud Johnson, who had his third dou- I ble-double this season with 16 points and 12 I rebounds. BJ McKie also came a bit closer to be- I coming USC's all-time scoring leader with 17 I points, and was helped by Herbert Lee Davis's I 11 points. The Bulldogs' super sophomore, I forward Tang Hamilton, pumped in 20 points | as the tallest man on the court. The Game- I cocks whittled the lead to 57-54 with 2:47 left | in the game when McKie ran into the lane, | used his patented spin move, and seemed to |p! be foxiled while completing a layup. However, the referee called McKie for traveling instead of of putting him on the line for the potential game tying free throw. The Bulldogs then won on free throws, as Carolina was forced to fold to get the ball back. T1 cocks dropped their conference opener and prepari defending national champion Kentucky. use 74, S.C State 60 Carolina, desperately needing a victory, fii one at the hands of the Bulldogs, who brought Arthu back to Columbia for the first time since he transf lowing the 1996-97 season. The Gamecocks were led by Aaron Lucas, wh first collegiate start and didn't disappoint, as he i and orchestrated a hot-shooting USC offense. E had another strong game with 16, and sophomc nio Grant scored 13. S.C. State was led by Mike Wiatre with 23. the Carolina lead from 18 to eight with five min The Bulldogs, who showed strong signs of a sec secutive MEAC championship, had warmed up Duke and Maryland, and were hungry for a wi depleted USC team. However, the Gamecocks used strong free thn il?g over the stretch ofrthe last minutes to icft the get themselves back on track. rBALL - (p n Paige, Philip Jones, ~ [evin Rivers were d to the All-SEC man team. Rivers / I dso selected to the W I all News Freshman nerica team. \y The omen's baskei nds Gamecocks 86-57, igainst SEC competition The Gamecocks had flashes of brilliance during th game, but seemed to be very inconsistent with shot sele( tion. The answers had to be found before conference pla Carolina started, but USC coach Eddie Fogler seemed to be very con le games fident going into the new year, i Confer1 a losing USC 64, Purdue 80 isons and The Gamecock men's basketball program might hav ous jeop- faced its toughest test of the season on Tuesday, Dec. 2$ at the Jimmy V Classic at the Meadowlands in New Jer sey. This test came in the presence of the eighth-ranked Put ville, TN. due Boilermakers, who ultimately defeated USC, 80-6^ I, against At halftime, the Gamecocks appeared up to the cha] 2 stepped lenge, trailing by only seven points. atures in However, any thoughts of an early Christmas preser syshould for USC percent) fans were | d, 86-57. squashed I finished when the I ty better, grinches I nnp from Pur st really due began I ut in the the second I half with a I /as close. 12-4 run, I d trailed leaving the I the Vols Gamecocks I halftime down 15 I un. and feeling I the pretty grandma then we who got H run over by I a reindeer. I After I naTues- this run, al ESPN U S C I i intimi- couldn't I audience seem to get I lad. The back into I Padgett, the B e Game- game, only I e of Ken- coming as I iker?se- close as I its on an nine points I from the the rest of I also shot the way. I h|F jiff mm 9^ j^TjflV^tt^&[ BPJom W H WP*^Mg| I W* A *~| ./ SfraP" *' '^SKI* >^BK sSsp"^ ^HL' 8 I ifll^ 1^ ^"*? bur " The lead ing scorer for th ^??? Gamecocks wa le Game- BJ McKie, with 14. For Purdue, it was Jaraan Cornell wit ed to face 20 points, including five 3-pointers. Despite the second half, USC Coach Eddie Fogler seeme somewhat pleased with his team's performance. "We played a little better tonight than we have bee lally got playing, particularly against East Carolina," he said, r Carlisle "We got better shots, and did some nice things. But w erred fol- gave up way too many easy baskets, and we still can't seer to grab a rebound," Fogler said. o had his scored 17 USC 34, East Carolina 56 ?J McKie The Gamecocks suffered a demoralizing loss to a wea ire Anto- Pirates team, as they shot a horribly low 23.4 percent ffoi the field and set records for fewest points ever scored a , and cut Frank McGuire Arena. The Gamecocks hit only four o utes left. 23 shots in the first half, watching the ball roll off the riir J ?? ? /Aii4- r\f |V*a koclrnf nnrl rrnnnrollrr rln AxrnnrfVimrr Kii UI1U UUil- uuuiitc UUL ui I/1IC uaoACt, CUIVA 5^11^1 UIAJ \1\J tYuijwmi^ wu i against fall through en route to a halftime total of 13. ECU's Bran in over a don Hawkins scored 15 and drove into the lane throughou the game. )w shoot- The Gamecocks improved a bit in the second half, bu win and still only shot 29.2 percent, as only six Gamecocks evei WRAP-UP page V NATE SAYS... Nate says BJ McKie was fiming & . named as one of the top World "Oin 3d ronrlirlatpc at f Ito mid >amprnrl? schedule WIHtlUlK ^ Januaiy 12-16 t Women's Swin \ M I T Diving, Diving Wellington, Nev U I L. ^1 January 13 Men's B-ball vs p.m., Frank Md Gamecock tball struggle I Lady Gamecocks fc State 69-66, yet to wt f by Charlie Wallace ' Assistant Sports Editor l" The Carolina women's basketball team didn't get what it was hoping for from Santa Claus this Christmas Break, going 3-4 with losses to archrival Clemson, and SEC foes Auburn, Tennessee, and Mississipp State However, there e were a few bringht spots for the Lady Gamecocks. '> Lisa Williams and Nikki Miars both joined the elite 1,000 Point Club, becoming the 19th and 20th womens players at USC to ever score 1,000 points. ^ USC 66, Mississippi State 69 * The Lady Gamecocks record sunk to 9-5 overall and 04 in SEC play with a 69-66~loss to Mississippi State. In a game marred by 64 turnovers and 57 fouls, it was, as 1 i M I ? HH ; - ] i I - H_^*t.,y>^feSk'/^^k' % I ^1|| H^Ki HH Hh__ ^ " <*llllmif^^iir^4P^iffli^S^^im^ 6 Coach Su- Photos by Sean Rayford Photo Edito s s a n ^ Walvius said, "one of the ugliest SEC games youH ever see." Shannon Segres and Nikki Miars dominated the scoring d for USC with a combined total of 42 points. "This is a serious wake up call to the rest of our team. n Depth is the only soloution in a case like this," Walvius said. USC had their chances to win in the final minute but blew c each opportunity as it came to them. n Down by two with 32 seconds left Lisa Williams threw up a brick from beyond the three point line. Williams had the opportunity to redeem herself with seven seconds remaining when she was fouled while takk ing a 3-point shot. n With three free throws, she could have tied the game lt but only hit one. f Surprisingly, Walvius didn't want to take the bevy of 3-point shots that ensued in the final minute. "We t weren't playing as a team tonight and that really hurt us," said Miars. t USC 58, Tennessee 87 t Chamique Holdsclaw scored 22 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead No. 2 Tennessee to an 87-58 victory 9 over South Carolina on Thursday night. * ~ ri naiviuivvj C4.1. cxxw iiuw v Zealand season point for the John R. Wooden Award, recogi. Florida 7:30 nizing the most outstand3uire Arena ing collegiate player. Page 17 over break ill to Mississippi n in SEC contests The Lady Vols (12-1,3-0 Southeastern Conference) also got 18 points from Semeka Randall and 14 points from Kellie Jolly. South Carolina (9-4,0-3) was led in scoring by Jocelyn Penn with 14 points. Tennessee took control with a 10-0 run midway through the first half. Three steals by the Lady Vols led to three baskets ? two by Holdsclaw ? as Tennessee built a 20-6 lead with 9:00 left. South Carolina hit just four of its first 15 shots and went five minutes without scoring during the Lady Vols' first-half surge. Randall sparked another Tennessee run late in the first half, hitting three consecutive baskets to give the Lady Vols a 34-15 lead with five minutes left. For the half, South Carolina had 15 turnovers and attempted just 24 shots, compared to 39 by Tennessee. Despite a sluggish second-half performance, the Lady Vols were able to maintain their advantage with good defense. South Carolina had another dry spell eight minutes into the second half, and Holdsclaw and Randall led a spurt that was capped by Jolly's 3-point basket. The shot gave Tennessee a 71-43 lead. The Lady Gamecocks cut the gap to 20 late in the game but could get no closer. Tennessee, which shot 53 percent from the field in the game, also out-rebounded South Carolina 46-37. use 50, Auburn 62 The Auburn Tigers scored 44 points in the second half to overwhelm the Lady Gamecocks, 62-50. USC started strong and had a 25-18 halftime advantage, but, led by Tasha Hamilton's 16 points, Auburn took the lead soon after and held on. "We may have let up on defense a little in the second half," explained Lady Gamecock freshman guard Shaunzinski Gortman. After this contest, USC dropped to 9-3 overall and 0-2 in the SEC. USC 89, Wisconsin-Milwaukee 63 USC 109, Texas Pan-American 71 South Carolina defeated the University of WisconsinMilwaukee, 89-63, and the University of Texas-Pan American, 109-71, on Dec. 28 and Dec. 29 to capture the 12th FAU New's Year's Classic Tournament in Boca Raton, Fla. Junior Annie Lester and freshman Shaunzinski Gort man of USC were named to the All-Tournament team with senior Lisa Williams winning the tournament's Most Valuable Player award. In the game against UWM, Williams scored 18 points to lead the Lady H Gamecocks to victory. Lester recorded her fifth pspQr consecutive MhrWIy' 'i"' Same double figures and . paced the team i|||N^ in rebounds with seven. USC shot * a season-high ^ ^ percent L \ Panther mm..M~>jijylL :r|fftil turnovers. oa ^Kpn In the c^ampi?nsi1ip *r^m mMjmm jnr | game, Lester led South Carolina ||fw9Hy^SH 9H to victory with 24 i points and 10 re^TMptlM|M|gB|g[|P^ bounds. It was her 46th double-douI ble performance of the season I and her sixth straight game in double figures. P|y ^ Williams contributed 14 points $ in the win. Juniors Shanta Jeffcoat and Cassie Key and freshly nwi Shannon Segres all set new l.? '""" JjlH^JHyg personal highs in scoring with 15, 10 and 16 point performances> respectively. jfflRj Six South Carolina players scored in double figures for the first time this season. ^k. ?K?sJE* llfifi rrsrofi c r stnto 61 r Nathan Brown Sports Editor Penn, a reserve forward, hit on 10-of-ll shots in sparking USC to the victory. The Lady Gamecocks were never seriously threatened by State, holding leads of 8-0 and 25-9 before cruising into halftime up 43-21. In the second half, USC continued to overmatch the Lady Bulldogs with their size and resilient defense. S.C. State was forced into 44 turnovers for the game and also lost the battle for second-chance points, 35-13. The smaller Lady Bulldogs played the game without Twana Wright, their leading scorer and rebounder. USC 67, Clemson 84 The Clemson Tieer defense Droved too much for USC to handle, as they defeated the Lady Gamecocks 84-67. "Clemson played great defense. Defense wins basketball games," said Carolina coach Susan Walvius. The Tiger defense created 23 turnovers and seemed to frustrate Carolina the whole game. 'It's team defeftse," said CU coach Jim Davis. "We aren't very good one-on-one defenders, but our team concept is what gets it done for us." Behind Amy Geren, who led the team with 26 points, and Natasha Anderson, who added ~ WALVIEBALL page 19