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USC Schedule ■ Women’s basketball vs. Florida A&M, 7 p.m. ■ Women’s Cross Country at NCAA Championships Gamecocks play dogcatcher Carolina beats Terriers, Bulldogs to start season 2-0 by Kyle Almond and Michael Haney Staff Writers South Carolina 76, Wofford 62 Antonio Grant scored a team-high 15 points and pulled down a game-high nine rebounds to lead USC to a 76-62 win in its regular season opener against the Wofford Terriers. Trailing by one at halftime, Grant and the Gamecocks started the second half on a 7-0 run and never looked back. This game was a totally different story than last year’s contest between the two teams. Last season, USC blew out Wofford 91-42. After the Gamecocks jumped out to an ear ly 11 -1 lead, Wofford started to slowly chip away at the deficit until they found themselves in front, 17-16, off a 3-pointer by forward Starzee Walk er. The lead changed hands a few times in the first half, but when the buzzer sounded to end the first 20 minutes of play, the Terriers held a small advantage. Wofford hit six of nine 3-point ers in the first half. “Wofford is scrappy, smart and tough,” USC head ctjach Eddie Fogler said after the game. “And tonight shows what six of nine from 3 point land can do in college basketball. It’s a great equalizer. Wfe didn’t play poorly in the first half. They just hit their shots.” South Carolina shut down its opponents’ long-range attack in the second half, however, as Wofford connected on only two of 15 three pointers in the final period. USC’s lone senior, guard Herbert Lee Davis, scored 12 points for the Gamecocks, which in cluded a thunderous dunk off a rebound that brought the home crowd at Frank McGuire Are na to their feet. Freshman center Marius Petravicius added 10 points and six rebounds, while guards Aaron Lucas and Chuck Eidson had seven and six assists, respectively. But the real story was Grant. In addition to his 15 points and nine rebounds, the redshirt junior from North Augusta added two assists and a steal. Five of his nine rebounds were off the offensive glass. “Grant was terrific the whole game,” Fogler said. “He did a great job rebounding offensive ly, taking the ball to the basket and using his strength.” Friday’s win was the Gamecocks’ 16th straight victory against the Terriers, in a rivalry dating back to 1908. South Carolina 68, Hie Citadel 51 Less than 48 hours after opening its season with a win against Wofford, the South Carolina men’s basketball team returned to the court, de feating The Citadel, 68-51. The game was a hard-fought contest that wasn’t decided until the Gamecocks were able to put together a run midway through the sec ond half. The Gamecocks struggled early on of fense, not scoring their first field goal until the 14:26 mark of the first half. Carolina battled to erase a 7-1 deficit and took its first lead on a Travis Kraft 3-pointer with 11:22 left in the first half. The Bulldogs threatened often, and Caroli na wasn’t able to take a lead larger than five points until 5:57 left in the game, when it took control and pushed its lead to 12 points. Chuck Eidson paced the Gamecocks with 14 points, followed by Heibert Lee Davis who chipped in 13. Antonio Grant and Tony Kitch ings added 12 and 11 points, respectively, to round out the leading scorers. The Citadel didn’t seem fazed by Carolina’s decisive height advantage, playing the Game cocks tough throughout the game. The Bulldogs, whose tallest player was 6 feet, 7 inches, out rebounded the Gamecocks and used their quick ness to disrupt many of South Carolina’s scor ing opportunities with steals. Carolina was able to break away and push its lead to 14 late in the game with a series of turnovers. Carolina scored 26 points off Bull dog miscues. The Citadel was led in scoring by forwards Rod Shiver and Alan Puckett, who had 14 points each and led the Bulldogs in scoring. The Gamecocks have opened the season with at least two straight victories on two oth er occasions in the Eddie Fogler era. Two years ago, USC captured its first five contests en route to a 23-8 season and an SEC championship. In 1995, Carolina began the year 2-0 and finished 19-12 with a quartefinals appearance in the Na tional Invitational Tournament. Carolina faces its first big challenge of the season as it travels to Puerto Rico this week for the Puerto Rico Shootout. Carolina will face Virginia on Thursday and will play the winner of the Michigan State/Providence game Fri day. Sean Rayford rmoto editor Carolina guard Herbert Lee Davis, rlght,-shoots over Wofford’s Rashane DeLoach on Friday night USC women open with win over UNCC by Shannon Rooke Staff Writer | The last time the Lady Gamecock bas ketball team opened its season with a win, it ended up winning its first five games. With a 67-61 opening night-comeback win against UNC-Charlotte, the USC women are on the right track. UNCC’s Tonya Phifer sank a basket with only seven seconds gone. Four minutes, four turnovers and eight UNCC points later, USC got on the board when Shannon Segres hit a baseline shot At the 14-minute iriaik, UNCC’s Jameka Jones and Phifer helped increase their team’s lead with two 3-pointeis, putting the 49ers up 16-4. The Gamecocks never came closer than eight points in the half. With just 4:55 left, the Lady Gamecocks cut the lead from 14 to nine after Kelly Morrone hit two clutch ) 3-pointers. When time ran out, however, UNCC had increased its lead to 10 points, making the score 32-22 at halftime. Carolina coach Susan Walvius knew her players could only do better from there. “We weren’t too happy with the way that we start ed,” she said. “\\fe were playing hard, but not smart.” The Lady Gamecocks began the second half completely different. They continued to score and live minutes later, with a 2-foot shot by Segres, had cut UNCC’s lead to five. With 6:27 left on the clock, USC came within one after Phifer lost the ball, resulting in an easy layup from Jocelyn Penn. The 49ers didn’t take long to answer with a 3-pointer of their own from Phifer, giving them a 53-49 lead. When UNCC recorded r _ _ its lyth turnover ot the game, USC s Annie Lester took control and sank her third basket of the game to give Carolina its first lead. USC continued to increase its lead until the final buzzer. “[UNCC is] a completely different team than they were last year,” she said. “We were really fortunate to get away with a win today. We missed everything, and they didn’t.” The Lady Gamecocks’ were able to get 47 rebounds, partially because of a zone de fense. “The defense really gave us a lift,” Penn said. “We saw them hustling, so we felt like we needed to step it up, too.” Carolina will play host to Florida A&M at 7 p.m. tonight. Last season, USC domi nated the Rattlers in a 78-51 win. Sean Rayford photo editor Guard Cristina Hill tries for a shot Friday against UNC-Chariotte. Football from page 1 Woodrow Dantzler was sacked twice and stopped for no gain as the Carolina faithful let out months of frustration in their cheers. “Defensively, we played the way we were capable of playing,” Holtz said. That defensive stand and a subsequent 30-yard pass play from Petty to run ning back Antione Ne smith set up another Flo rio field goal, and with 14:41 left in the first half, Carolina held a 6-0 lead. Clem son answered with a three minute, nine play, 51-yard drive. Dant zler com pleted sever al passes on the drive, en gineering an offense capa hlf> of (a'nrino' quickly. Running back Travis Zachery’s 18-yard scamper and subsequent 2-yard TD plunge gave the Tigers their first lead of the game, 7-6. Clemson stifled Carolina’s next drive, and Dantzler hit Tiger receiver Rod Gardner for a 24-yard score to give Clemson a 14-6 advantage. However, Carolina answered right back with the help of a roughing-the-passer call and a pass interference penal ty on the Tigers. Freshman fullback Andrew Pinnock bowled his way into the endzone for the touchdown, bringing Car olina to within two points. The try for two failed. Clemson ended the half with a 24-yard field goal set up by two long Dantzler completions. In the second half, Clemson began to utilize the run ning game behind Zachery and Bernard Ramber. Zachery’s 4-yard touchdown run put the Tigers up by 12 points, 24 12. Carolina showed the presence of a running game on a subsequent scoring drive, particularly utilizing tailback Andrew Pinnock, and eventually cut the lead to 24-21. With every garnet-clad fan screaming, Clemson faced a fourth-and ■.. .. ..... 1Bn| lkArn. olina 30. Gardner, covered only by safety Ar turo Freeman, adjusted to the ball and made a touchdown catch to seal the game. “He [Free man] did everything he could; he was in good posi tion, but he [Gardner] just kept pushing off,” USC de fensive back Kevin House said. “We didn’t play up to our potential,” safety Ray Green said. “There was a chance we had to make plays ,and we didn ’t come up with the big play. Clemson capitalized when they needed to, we just didn’t make the plays.” The loss finished off an 0-11 season for USC, the first in school history. It also extended Carolina’s losing streak, the nation’s longest, to 21 games. “I’m sorry for the seniors,” Holtz said. “Wfe can’t change this season.” Sean Rayford photo editor Clemson’s Joe Don Reames (16) tries to haul In a pass Just under the out stretched arm of USC's Rashad Faison, left, during Saturday's game. NATIONAL rOOTBALL CONFERENCE East Division W L Home Road Div Str Washington 6 4 4-2 2-2 3-3 W-l Dallas 5 5 4-0 1-5 3-2 L-l New York Giants 4 5 2-2 2-3 2-3 L-2 Arizona 4 6 3-3 1-3 3-2 W-2 Philadelphia 3 8 2-4 1-4 2-3 L-l Central Division Detroit 6 4 4-1 2-3 2-1 L-2 Minnesota 6 4 3-2 3-2 2-3 W-3 Tampa Bay 6 4 4-1 2-3 0-2 W-4 Green Bay 5 5 4-2 1-3 3-2 W-l Chicago 5 6 2-3 3-3 2-1 W-l West Division St. Louis 8 2 5-0 3-2 5-0 W-2 Carolina 4 6 2-2 2-4 1-3 W-l San Francisco 3 7 2-3 1-4 1-4 L-6 New Orleans 2 7 2-4 0-3 2-2 W-l Atlanta 2 8 1-4 1-4 2-2 L-2 l " ' S' AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE East Division W L Home Road Div Str Miami 8 2 3-2 4-1 3-2 W-l Indianapolis 8 2 5-1 3-1 2-2 W-6 Buffalo 7 4 4-2 3-2 3-3 L-l New England 6 4 3-2 3-2 2-3 L-2 New York Jets 4 6 2-4 2-2 2-3 W-3 Central Division Jacksonville 8 1 3-1 5-0 4-1 W-6 Tennessee 8 2 5-1 3-1 6-0 W-5 Pittsburgh 5 4 1-2 4-2 3-2 L-l Baltimore 4 6 1-3 3-3 3-3 W-l Cleveland 2 9 0-5 2-4 1-6 L-l Cincinnati 1 10 0-6 1-4 1-5 L-6 West Division Seattle 7 2 3-1 4-1 2-1 W-4 Kansas City 5 5 4-1 1-4 2-21 L-3 Oakland 5 4 3-2 2-2 1-2 W-l San Diego 4 6 2-4 2-2 2-3 L-4 Denver 3 6 1-3 2-3 2-1 W-l Weekend’s Top News NFL Scores • JETS 17, Bills 7 • Panthers 31, BROWNS 17 • Seahawks 31, CHIEFS 19 • BUCS 19, Falcons 10 • TITANS 16, Steelers 10 • PACKERS 26, Uons 17 • Colts 44, EAGLES 17 • DOLPHINS 27, Patriots 17 • Ravens 34, BENGALS 31 (0T) • CARDINALS 13, Cowboys 9 • Bears 23, CHARGERS 20 (OT) • Rams 23, 49ERS 7 • REDSKINS 23, Giants 13 • LaDainan Tomlinson of TCU shatters NCAA record by rushing for 406 yards Saturday • Clemson basketball loses to Wofford, 79-74 Jeff Romig Special to The Gamecock USC has hope for the future n Nov. 1, 1997, the 5-3 South Carolina Gamecocks were com ing off a 35-3 victory over \frn derbilt and holding their own against Peyton Manning’s Tennessee Volun teers when USC quarterback and emo tional leader Anthony Wright went down with a knee injury. Wright was never the same, and neither were the Gamecocks. I would never have thought that Vanderbilt would be USC’s last easy Southeastern Conference victory for two years and counting. In fact, I didn’t even go to school here then. The irony of the situation is that I was skipping University of Alabama football games going on a mile from my apartment to watch the Gamecocks on television. USC is 1-21 since 1 returned to Columbia. How do you build on that? How do you change a mindset that hasn’t seen a win since Sept. 5, 1998? We can’t go back in time to find out what might have happened if Wright hadn’t gotten hurt that Saturday. Neither can we change the injuries that plagued USC’s offensive line in 1999. This season is over. This century is almost over. Life, however, is not over. The Gamecocks will win again some day, and in actuality, the pieces are in place to do so. Derek Watson has all the tools to be a big-time SEC back. He rushed for 394 yards in limited playing time be cause of injuries this season, but who knows what he would’ve done behind a veteran offensive line? Andrew Pinnock capped the sea son with a stellar performance against Clemson, rushing for 76 yards and two touchdowns. Throw in Ryan Brewer, who had -an excellent game against Florida and has played roles as a return man, re ceiver and running back, and you have a very solid returning backfield. The big question is at quarterback. Obviously, the future is not Car Ins ftnilfPC Kpvin ^irips IC vIp Crahh nr Josh Rogers. Do you go with Phil Petty, who showed signs of improvement the last two weeks of the season, or with Mikal Goodman, who kept his com posure during his time at quarterback? Goodman was 32-for-65 (49.2 per cent) with 572 yards passing, three touchdown passes and one intercep tion. In 1997, Vic Penn earned Fresh man All-SEC honors with virtually the same numbers as Goodman, complet ing 43-of-93 (46.2 percent) with three touchdowns iri mop-up work and starts against Florida and Clemson. But the real questions surround the offensive line. The reality is that Kevin Rivers, Melvin Paige and Philip Jones were all named to the freshman all-SEC team in 1998, and Cedric Williams and Langston Moore are being considered for the same honor this season. Throw in Tim Bell and the other five offensive linemen who saw time this sea son, and you return deoenl depth in that area. As far as wide recei vers go, Jermale Kelly and Brian Scott are reluming for their senior seasons. Scott, who has un derachieved immensely during his time at USC, showed his potential against Clemson with three catches for 59 yards. Add sophomores Jamie Scott, Willis Ham and Michael Ages to this group, and Lou Holtz fives his Quarterback some definite offensive options. The defense isn’t as young, but Rashad Faison, Sheldon Brown and An dre Goodman will solidify the defen sive backfield, while Cleveland Pinkney, Kenny Harney and Kalimba Edwards will provide talent up front. The real player that the Gamecocks have coming back is the one that is there every season - the fans. After 20 straight losses, the Game cock faithful breathed life into a rela tively comatose Gamecock team dur ing the Clemson game. For just a moment, the Gamecocks weren’t 0-10. As we all know, they fell short, but 1 can’t remember the last time the stands rumbled like that or the last time the distinct electricity of a football Satur day was in the air in Columbia. Plans were being made to rush the field and tear down the goalposts if Clemson fell. Vvfell, those plans are postponed for now, but don’t forget that feeling be cause next Sept. 2, the Gamecocks take on New Mexico State.