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'Cht ©am eco ck Kitchings leads defeat of Tigers 76-64 by Brock Vergakis The Gamecock South Carolina avenged six years’ Ar worth of defeat to Clemson on Saturday night (Dec. 9) by beating the Tigers 76 64 in front of a rowdy home crowd at Frank McGuire Arena. Tony Kitchings led the Gamecocks with 23 points and added another factor to the game that Clemson couldn’t stop — intensity. Kitchings was a dominant force inside the paint and dove after near ly every loose ball that came his way. “I’m a real emotional player,” Kitch ipgs said. “I love to dive and get the crowd into it. That’s what the crowd wants to see, to see you hustle.” Kitchings started the game on an emo tional high that began to get the best of him as he was a bit too aggressive and picked up two early fouls that lead to USC head coach Eddie Fogler putting him on the bench. “I was too pumped up,” Kitchings said. “I had some stupid fouls in the first half.” When Kitchings left the game, USC was up by nine. With a few minutes left in the first half, Clemson was able to cut the lead to two points. “That’s when our woes began,” Fogler said. “We lost our momentum.” Once Kitchings entered the game in the second half, Carolina began regaining that momentum and went up by as many as 10 before the Tigers began cutting in to their lead. Clemson was able to cut the Game cocks’ lead to two points, and eventually went up by one at one point. But Kitch ings didn’t have any intention of Caroli na losing. “I told them in the huddle, ‘Wfe’re not going to lose this game,’” Kitchings said. “I don’t care if we have to dive every time, we weren’t going to hit the panic button.” After Clemson took the lead, Kitch ings stole the ball, which led to Chuck Ei dson nailing a 3-point shot. Carolina nev er lost the lead again and slowly built up their lead to as many as 17 points. “I thought our intensity level was good here tonight. It was a good crowd with an electric atmosphere. I think our players fed off of that,” Fogler said. “Kitchings’ offensive punch was huge. When he’s playing well, he plays with a lot of positive emotion.” Carolina’s biggest concern before the game was defending Will Solomon of Clemson, an All-ACC first teamer. The Gamecocks succeeded in tfiis area, as Solomon shot poorly throughout the game. Solomon went four for 16 from the field and finished the game with 13 points, well below his season average of nearly 20 points a game. “You don’t stop a guy like Solomon,” Foglersaid. “You just hope to contain him.” While both teams played well de fensively, Carolina was able to do it with out fouling nearly as much as the Tigers. USC scored 29 points off of free throws, compared to Clemson’s nine. “We didn’t put a burden on them and make them foul us,” Clemson head coach Larry Shyatt said. “That’s something we have to get better at, and make them foul us. They put us in a position where we had to foul them.” The sports desk can be reached at gamecocksports@hotmail.com Defense decimates Buckeyes by Brock Vbrcakis The Gamecock TAMPA — Ohio State was favored to win this game, and they knew it. They also knew that USC had one of the best defenses in the country, but somehow that didn’t seem to register. From the beginning of the game, the Buckeyes thoughtnhey could outmuscle USC. On the game’s opening drive, OSU went for it on fourth and one and made it. The Buckeyes had done this often in Big Ten conference play and thought they could do it all afternoon against the Gamecocks. 1 However, on their second fourth and short play, they found out differ ently. On fourth and one on the same drive, Carolina stopped Ohio State’s huge offensive line and set the tone for the rest of the game. “It was disrespectful (going for it on fourth down), but that’s how the game is played,” Kalimba Edwards said. “Why should they not go for it? If they I can overpower the big guys in their con ference, why shouldn’t they just run over us?” Ohio State was used to playing a power game in the Big Ten and wasn’t ready for USC’s quick defensive line. “After the first drive, I knew (USC would win),” nose tackle Cleveland Pinkney said. “After the first drive, and they went for it twice on fourth down, I said, ‘Are these people crazy? That ain’t no respect.’” Crazy or not, Ohio State went home losers thanks, in part, to an outstanding performance by USC’s defense. Carolina had two interceptions, both by freshman Deandre Eiland, and four sacks for a loss of 23 yards. “I just wanted to play a fundamen tally sound game,” Eiland said. “I did n’t want to give up any big plays. We just said, ‘We’re not going to be out toughed. We’re going to go after them, we’re not going to let them go after us.’” The offense fed off the defense. The first touchdown of the game came in the third quarter after Pinkney picked up a ball that was fumbled by Ohio State’s quarterback Steve Bellisari. “Obviously, we did not protect the quarterback today,” said Ohio State line backer Steve Cooper. “Steve (Bellisari) took some tough shots.” Ohio State’s offensive line wasn’t quite capable of handling the defense like USC’s was. Gamecock quarterback Phil Petty was sacked only once in the game.“When you have a great de fense, it takes a lot of pressure off you,” Petty said. “They’re a great defense and they played well today. They shut a good team down. That makes it a lot easier for the offense. We were able to go out there and keep chipping away at it, and when we started to move the football, we knew we were in good shape with that defense behind us.” The sports desk can be reached at gamecocksports@hotmail.com Florida from page B1 • enough to hold off USC. Jamel Bradley led the Game cocks in scoring with 16 points, and backcourt mate Aaron Lucas added 15 joints to the winning cause. But afterwards, the buzz was all about Kraft and the spec tacular game-winner “[The shot] was right in front of me,” Fogler said. “I knew it was in as soon as it left his hands.” Lucas wasn’t so sure. “I swear the ball took three minutes to get in the basket,” he said of the long-range jumper. The buzzer-beater gave the Gamecocks a huge win in its con ference opener, one the team hopes will set the tone for a successful' SEC season. “It’s great to win like this be cause it gives us confidence,” Lu cas said. The confidence should be needed for USC’s brutal opening SEC schedule. The Gamecocks’ next two games will on the road against Kentucky and No. 4 Ten nessee. But for now, Fogler and the Gamecocks will enjoy the win. “Congratulations to Travis, who has had a foot problem, did n’t play at all, and was able to come in and make that shot under those circumstances,” Fogler said. “I’m very happy for Travis.” “But I’m more happy for my team. They can use something like that (a big win).” Brett Nelson contributed 13 - points for the Gators and freshman Orien Greene added 12. The sports desk can be reached at gamecocksports@hotniail.com Fraternity Spring Rush '*7 January 23-25 7:00-9:00 McBryde Quad Mandatory Rush Information Meeting Tuesday January 23 at 6:00 Russell House Golden Spur Thinking about joining a fraternity? Give it a shot! For more information call 777-3506. SCHOLARSHIP • LEADERSHIP ‘ SERVICE • FRIENDSHIP 1 ^ Start Tanning Now For Spring Break! Relax in our Wolffmodel Genesis II Sundash Beds with Facial Bulbs—43 bulbs per bed! Private Rooms • Tanning Supplies • Monthly Rates Available 15% Student Discount Year-Round The Tan For All Seasons Open*7 Days A Week Hi Z&S&2L Visit our web site at www.tfas.com 29204 . -COUPON Maurice's B-B-Q ■ r-— I One coupon per customer. • not good in conjunction | with any other promotion. —^ not redeemable in cash. ^erexPires 1/31/01 Offer Good at Any I of niaurice's 9 | . Locations. Im^aJ /Qv - COUPON Attention Student Organizations! Does your student organization receive student activity fees? Would you like to receive money to provide programs to USC students? CXre you tke new treasurer of your organization and need kelp? Then, you mr attend one of these Treasurer's Workshops to be eligible! spring zum Treasurers wornsnops Thursday, January 18th 3:30pm RH 322/326 Monday, January 22nd 3:30pm RH 315 Wednesday, January 24th 3:30pm RH 315 *Wednesday, January 24th 5:00pm RH 315 Thursday, January 25th 3:30pm RH 302 **Thursday, January 25th 6:00pm RH 302 Thursday, January 25th 7:00pm RH 302 * This session is designated for sports clubs. ** This session is designated for international clubs. Contact the Student Government office at 777-2654 or drop by Russell House Room 110 for more information. if you are planning on receiving student activity fees for the 2001-2002 school year, your treasurer OitlS&T attend one of these worhshops! Student Government • Department of Student Life Division of Student and Alumni Services „ „, v,.,,; Y „„ |University of South CarolinaSOU!H(7\ROLlNA. Want to help people in j Carolina ann the world? I 106AL ft INTERNATIONA^ * ” Internshins NOW AVAILABLE!! | JL Come to an information meeting and find out how you can: • Gain Valuable Work Experience • Make Life Long Friendships • Potential to Earn Academic Credit • Receive Financial assistance • Change Someone's Life!! Wednesday, January 24.2001 • 0:00 pm Russell House University Union Room 322 Tuesday, January 30,2001 • 0:00 pm Russell House University Union Room 3U5 Dobson Volunteer Service Program UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA The Dobson Volunteer Service Program is a Capstone Service Experience at the University of South Carolina. Applications are available in the Campus Activities Center, Student Government, and the Russell House Information Center. The application DEADLINE is February 9, 2001 at 4:00 pm Questions? Contact the Office of Community Service Programs @ 777-5780 --- -