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Gamecock Sports Schedule * ■ Men’s basketball vs. Kentucky in second round of SEC Tournament in Nashville, Tenn., 3:15 Friday (JP) ■ Track at NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., Friday-Saturday ■ Baseball vs. Arkansas, 7 p.m. Friday Sean Rayford/The Gamecock Tony Kitchings had a solid all-around game for USC on Thursday. The redshirt sophomore led the Gamecocks in three categories with 14 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Kitchings strong in first-round win ■ Gamecocks to face Kentucky in second round of SEC tourney by Kyle Almond The Gamecock ' Tony Kitchings scored a team high 14 points and added 10 rebounds to lead USC to an opening round SEC Tournament victory Thursday over the Mississippi State Bulldogs 69-62. With the win, the Gamecocks (15-13) move on to the next round to face SEC regular-season co champion Kentucky today. The No. 15 Wildcats are the SEC East’s No. 1 seed in the tournament and had a first-round bye. USC gained revenge over the Bulldogs (16-12), which defeated them in the final game of the regular season this past Saturday in Starkville, Miss. “This was a game we needed to win to build our confidence,” Kitchings said. “We’ve lost a lot of close games this season, and we lost to Mississippi State on Saturday. We really needed this win tonight.” Free-throw shooting was key for USC down the stretch. The Gamecocks, averaging only 67 percent from the line going into the game, made 18 of 23 foul shots Thursday and were able to hold off Mississippi State’s attempt at a late comeback. Carolina led at halftime 32-28 and had an eight-point lead in the second half, but the Bulldogs went on a 144 run to take the lead with 9:35 to go. Kitchings hit back-to-back shots minutes later to give USC a lead it would never relinquish. Jarnel Bradley, who like Rolando Howell scored 11 points for USC, hit a jumper to give the Gamecocks a se ven-point lead with just under five minutes remaining. - MSU took advantage of some missed free throws by USC to get within three with under a minute left, but Carolina held on for the victory. “I’m glad we could come out and compete today,” USC’s Antonio Grant said. “It was a good win for us.” The Bulldogs hit 13 of 20 three pointers in Saturday’s game but struggled to find a shot Thursday. MSU made only three of 17 from behind the arc. Marckell Patterson and Antonio Jackson led Mississippi State with 15 points each. Tang Hamilton, one of the Bulldogs’ leading scorers, went 0-for-6 from the field and made only one point. “[Carolina] played great defense tonight,” Hamilton said. “They always had someone in my face.” Next up for the Gamecocks is Kentucky, a team that’s beaten them twice already this season. The Wildcats held off USC 69-63 in Lexington, Ky., on Jan. 10 and then 69 62 Soum Carolina 69 (15-13) FG FT R A TO TP Petravicius2-4 4-5 4 1 2 8 Grant 2-8 2-3 4 0 3 8 Kitchings 7-130-0 10 4 3 14 Lucas 2-100-1 4 2 3 5 Bradley 2-3 6-6 3 2 0 11 Ross 1-1 1-20114 'Boynton 3-6 0-0 0 0 0 8 Howell 3-5 5-6 5 0 1 11 TOTAL 22-55 18-2330 10 13 69 Mississippi Srcre 62 (16-12) FG FT R A TO TP Hamilton 0-6 1-2 5 0 3 1 Patterson 7-14 0-0 5 4 4 15 Smith 39 1-3 8 0 1 7 Goffer 1-3 2-2 3 1 2 5 Jackson 6-14 33 1 2 1 15 Austin 6-9 0-2 8 0 1 12 Billups 0-2 0-0 1 0 1 0 Bowers 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 Gholar 24 M 3 0 1 5 Zimenman 1-3 0-0 2 0 1 2 TOTAL 26-64 7-12 36 7 15 62 Halftime score: South Carolina 32-28 3point shooting: South Carolina 7-13 (Grant 2-3, Lucas 1-4, Bradley 1-2, Ross 1 1, Boynton 2-3) Mississippi State 3-17 (Hamilton 0-3, Patterson 1-2, Goffer 1-3, Jackson 0-5, BBups 0-1, Gholar 1-3). Steals: South Carolina 7-2 Blocks: 2-2 Attendance: 16,197 pummeled them 94-61 in Columbia nearly a month later. Tip-off for today’s game is 3:15 p.m. The game will be televised regionally on Jefferson-Pilot Sports. The sports desk can be reached at gamecocksports@hotmail.com Baseball team drops second straight by Jason Malick The Gamecook Some might say it was the chilly weather. Others might blame the lack ^ of theme music, because someone at the Clemson game nabbed the music generating computer out of the press box. Regardless, it was a sad Wednesday night in Columbia for the No. 6 Gamecocks as they lost to Furman 5 4. It was USC’s second straight loss of the season after it won its first 13 games. The Gamecocks (13-2) got off to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning when Brennan Dees and Tim Whittaker hit back-to-back home runs to give USC a 2-0 lead. Carolina stayed on top until Furman (12-6) roughed up starting pitcher David Marchbanks (1-1) with three runs in the third inning to take a 3-2 lead. Marchbanks was relieved by Matt Wilson to finish out the rough inning, and Wilson went on to strike out the next three batters. As the Gamecocks continued to struggle to score, Furman brought in two more runs to increase the lead to lliree, 5-2. In the eighth inning, things began to look up for USC when Whittaker hit his second home run of the game, his fifth of the year, to cut the lead to 54. “I was trying to get us on the board somehow,” Whittaker said. However, Whittaker’s heroics came too late. Furman held on for the win. “I was not surprised that we lost the game,” USC head coach Ray Tanner said. “There’s so much parity in baseball. Clearly stated, they showed that they have a solid club.” Tom Mastny (2-2) got the win for the Paladins. He allowed no runs in two innings pitched after entering the game in the fifth inning. Starter Jon Stallworth allowed two runs and struck out four in four innings of work. Rob Purvis earned his first save of the season. Designated hitter Derek Norman went 3-for-5 with two RBIs to lead the Paladins. If die cold weather and stolen music weren’t a factor in the loss, the absence of shortstop and No. 2 hitter Drew Meyer was. According to Tanner, Meyer had to be taken out of the starting lineup after hurting his back during pre-game warm ups. He made an appearance toward the end of the game, but was a non-factor. Freshman Kevin Melillo started in Meyer’s place. Melillo, playing second base with Bryon Jeffcoat at shortstop, hit his first double of the year in the fourth inning and was pleased to help Carolina’s cause. 5 4 “I was excited that I was able to hit that double,” Melillo said. “I tried to do what 1 could to help the team win.” ' The Gamecocks lead the overall series with Furman 94-48-2. Carolina will play Arkansas this weekend in a three-game series at Saige Frye Field as SEC conference play gets under way. Friday’s game is set to start at 7 p.m. The sports desk can be reached at gamecocksports@hotmail.com USC center fielder McBeth off to career start Special to The Gamecock Marcus McBeth has added power to his already potent game. He *'as seven home runs already on the year. by Casey White The Gamecock After a sluggish 2000 season, junior center fielder Marcus McBeth has returned with a vengeance in 2001, wreaking havoc on the field with improved power from the lead-off spot. The past season, McBeth hit nine home runs in 66 games. Through 15 games this season, he has knocked seven balls out of the park, including one grand slam. So how do you make yourself into a home-run champion over one off season? According to McBeth, it’s not Wheaties — it’s hard work, motivation and determination. “I did a lot of practicing on things I felt I needed to work on, especially my hitting, which I needed to improve on dramatically,” McBeth said. “Most of it was preparation in the weight room. I’d spend hours in there. I’d go like five days a week and spend maybe an hour and a half (each day).” McBeth said he has “just been blessed this year so far to be doing so well.” One of those blessings came as a relief to the team. McBeth’s first career grand slam came at a critical point in last month’s game against George Mason. Down 6-2 in the sixth inning, McBeth crushed a ball over the left field wall to tie the game. Later in the game, he hit a second home run, this one winning the game in the bottom of the ninth. McBeth’s six RBIs over the course of the game carried USC to victory. “I really can’t explain the feeling,” McBeth said of the grand slam. “I was amazed and shocked more than anything else. It felt like a dream. I didn’t realize until the next day what had really happened.” Along with the big performance in the George Mason game, McBeth has also posted a 10-game hitting streak this season and leads USC in hits (21), runs scored (20) and total bases (46). He is also second on the team in home runs and third in RBIs with 20. McBeth’s motivation on the field stems from gratitude and remembrance of those around him who aren’t so lucky. “I just think of people who don’t have the opportunity to do the things that I can do,” he said. “I try to think of that in every situation and opportunity I get into. I constantly thank God that he has blessed me with these abilities.” This Gamecock also has a good head on his shoulders. McBeth is following in his family’s footsteps, seeking a career in business as a backup plan to professional baseball. Marcus McBeth Junior center Gelder 6’1”, 189 lbs. Cross Anchor, S.C. ■ Started ail 66 games for USC last season ■ Won the team's Golden Glove Award for defense in 2000 ■ Named “Best Defensive Outfielder in the SEC” by Baseball America ■ Currently hitting .323 with 7 HR and 20 RBIs “I’d really like to keep playing ball, but if I don’t make it here, I’ll pursue a career in business,” he said. As for the team, which is 13-2 after back-to-back losses to Clemson and Furman, McBeth expressed confidence in the remainder of the season. “Hopefully, we can keep it going,” he said. “We can’t get a big head. We have to stay at a calm level and take every game one at a time.” The sports desk can be reached at gamecocksports@hotmail.com Women’s Basketball Improved Carolina looking to future by Charles Tomlinson The Gamecock This past Thursday, the Lady Gamecock basketball team was eliminated from the SEC Tournament after a 75-68 loss at the hands of Ole Miss. Despite its early exit from the tournament, USC still showed improvement throughout the season and even broke the school record for most conference wins in a single season. The Lady Gamecocks finished the season with an 11-17 overall record, 6 8 in the SEC. Under head coach Susan Walvius, coaching her fourth season at USC, Carolina made a vast improvement over last season’s 3-11 conference record, breaking the school’s all-time record of five SEC wins in a season. Its landmark sixth SEC victory came on Feb. 15 when they squelched Mississippi State 76-55. Throughout the season, the Lady Gamecocks had a well-balanced offense, with many players factoring in the scoring column. With 11.6 points per game, junior Teresa Geter led the Lady Gamecocks in scoring. Shaun Gortman, also a junior, was right behind Geter with 11 points per game. Both Geter and Gortman were named to the All-SEC second team this season. Junior forward Tatyana Troina was another Gamecock often in double digits this season, scoring an average of 10.7 points a game. Sophomore Petra Ujhelyi contributed 8.4 points per game, and freshman guard Nihan Anaz finished her debut season with an average of 9.4 points per game. If this trend continues, Walvius sees USC as being a more formidable opponent next season.' “We’re going to be a more difficult team for people to stop because you can’t focus on one or two players,” Walvius said. Whlvius is pleased with the direction the team is headed. “Certainly, we’re excited about winning six SEC games,” she said. “Especially due to the fact that we don’t have any seniors and can step into next season and build on that.” Gortman believes this year’s team was different from the other squads in her previous years as a Lady Gamecock. “I think our team was different from teams in the past as far as talent and how we communicated with each other on and off the court,” Gortman said. Walvius noted that a lack of vocal leadership has been a major problem for the Lady Gamecocks throughout the season. However, next season, she expects the leadership abilities of the team to be enhanced with a more experienced squad and some new faces. Walvius believes the team will gain leadership from returning upperclassmen Jocelyn Penn, Kelly Morrone and Crishna Hill. All three players were redshirted for medical reasons this season. I^hlvius also plans to add one or two new players to the roster next season. It s important tor us to bring in players that have that leadership quality, so we’re looking to do that in recruiting,” she said. Many of the Lady Gamecock players will remain in Columbia over the summer, giving Wklvius an opportunity to work with them even more. Players from foreign countries who won’t be around this summer will be gaining experience in international leagues while representing their home countries. Whlvius said this season’s team was different than any other that she has coached at USC. “I think we could look back on this SEC schedule and say, ‘Wow, we won six, but we’re disappointed,”’ she explained. “With past teams, I have not been able to reflect back on the season and say that.” Walvius believes the Lady Gamecock basketball team has a bright future in store. “This program wants to compete for a national championship, and we’re going to continue to build in that direction.” The sports desk can be reached at gamecocksports@hotmail.com