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GAME SCHEDULE o WOMEN’S AND MEN’S SWIMMING at Auburn Invitational,TBA ra5e v , WOMEN’S BASKETBALL vs. Clemson, 7 p.m. Friday, December 3, 2004 MEN'S BASKETBALL vs. Clemson, 7:30 p.m. /' ^ m\w ■■MW m MHO KATIE KIRKLAND/THE GAMECOCK Junior Tarence Kinsey shoots over an Appalachian State defender in the Gamecocks’ 91-57 victory. Kinsey had 19 points in the win. Kinsey leads Gamecock attack to blowout victory over ASU By STEPHEN FASTENAU STAFF WRITER USC head coach Dave Odom said on Wednesday that junior guard Tarence Kinsey spent all week in practice perfecting his jump shot. The hard work paid off as Kinsey scored 19 points — two points shy of his career high — as the Gamecocks routed Appalachian State on Wednesday, 91-57. Carlos Powell added 15 points for USC, as the Gamecocks improved their record to 4-0 going into Saturday’s game against Clemson. *Every day after practice I say things like, ‘If you need some extra shooting see (the coaches),’’’Odom said. “(Kinsey) stayed all week long extra. Those guys that seize the opportunity, you’re really pleased with them for that.” The Mountaineers kept the game fairly close up until the end of the first half. After starting 2-of-ll shooting, ASU pulled within five points twice and once within four. ASU’s fiill-court pressure in the first half gave USC problems, causing Odom to call multiple timeouts. “Like any team early in the season, we lost our concentration and ended up giving up two or three lay-ups,” Odom said. “That absolutely ignites me.” With 5:28 remaining in the first half, USC clung to a 22-17 lead. ASU cut the lead to just four at 25-21 with only 2:48 remaining in the half. The Gamecocks then went on an 11-2 run to give them a 36-23 lead at halftime. The run was capped by the most spectacular play of the night. Sophomore Renaldo Balkman stole an errant Mountaineer pass at midcourt and tipped the ball to teammate Josh Gonner as Balkman fell out of bounds. Gonner then whipped a quick pass around his back to Brandon Wallace, who found Balkman cutting from the outside for a thunderous dunk. The play received national recognition, being featured as the number 10 play in “There were just guys open that had a better shot than me, so I passed the ball to them.” TARENCE KINSEY JUNIOR GUARD Thursday morning’s “SportsCenter” top 10. Fifteen of Kinsey’s 19 points came in the first half on 5-of-7 shooting. The junior’s output was limited in the second half because of his unselfish passing and decreased playing time as USC enjoyed a comfortable lead. “(Kinsey) probably couldn’t tell you what his career high is,” Odom said. “I couldn’t.” Kinsey’s memory was evidently better than Odom thought. “I knew that,” Kinsey said. “I didn’t want to make like it seem I was trying to get (a career high). There were just guys open that had a better shot than me, so 1 passed the ball to them.” Reserves stepped in and saw significant playing time in the second half. All but one USC player scored. John Land saw playing time with about a minute remaining in the game after “We want Jon Land” tang from the student sections, but his lone three pointer was off the mark. Junior college transfer Antoine Tisby was a main contributor in the second half. The 6-foot-8-inch center was able to do damage inside, scoring 12 of his 13 points in the second half. Tisby went to the free-throw line often, going 7-of-10 from the line for the night. ASU center Chris McFarland, a player Odom once attempted to recruit, finished with 17 points. He was the only Mountaineer in double digits for the game. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@gwrn.sc. edu Basketball to face top-20 teams Kansas, Kentucky during break ■ Gamecocks to face non-SEC opponents in hostile arenas By STEPHEN FASTENAU STAFF WRITER While most will soon be heading home for the holidays, the USC men’s basketball team will most definitely not be. The Gamecocks will hit the road for a vigorous non-conference schedule that includes games at Kansas, Pittsburgh and Kentucky — each of which are ranked in the top fifteen nationally. • USC (4-0, 0-0) will start on a lighter note. Clemson will be in town Saturday to face the Gamecocks at the Colonial Center. Dave Odom’s team will be coming off a fresh 91-57 rout of Appalachian State. The Tigers are 4-1 and coming off an 8-point win against Ohio State in the ACC/Big 12 ; Challenge. The Gamecocks’ main goal will be trying to keep from looking ahead to what they will face next. Following the Clemson game, USC will take on South Florida before traveling to Lawrenceville on Dec. 18 to battle with the No. 2 Kansas Jayhawks. South Florida is one of .a few weaker teams USC will take on over the break. The Bulls, a member of Conference USA, are 4-1 after suffering their first loss to the Richmond Spiders on Wednesday night. USF is an experienced squad, with its 15-man roster consisting of nine upperclassmen. Kansas has won its past two games by a combined 73 points behind the play of early player-of-the-year candidate Wayne Simien. The 6-foot-9-inch senior is averaging a double-double with 19.7 .points and 12.3 rebounds per game. USC will try and contain the star with help from Carlos Powell and Antoine Tisby inside. The Gamecocks then have two games during the week before Christmas. USC will match up against East Carolina (4 2) in a special meeting in Mobile. Alabama before returning home to square off with in-state foe S.C. State (4 1). The Bulldogs are coming off a win against Miami (FI) and also boast a win against Penn State. USC goes on the road again Dec. 29 to play No. 14 Pittsburgh. The Panthers will be another tough test for Odom’s Gamecocks. Pittsburgh is 4-0, playing a relatively light non-conference I schedule in which they have beaten teams by an average of more than 27 points. Six-foot-7-inch, senior forward Chevon Troutman, who is averaging 17 points and nine rebounds per game, leads the Panthers. Division I-AA Wofford visits the Colonial Center on New Year’s Eve. 1 he I erriers are 3-2 with close losses against Iennessee and Miami (Fla.). The third and final major contest USC will face over the break will also be its conference opener. The Gamecocks face SEC foe Kentucky on Jan. 5 in Lexington. The ijtefending SEC I ournament champion Wildcats wilWio^iavtMiad an easy run prior to facing USC. Kentucky will have played nationally ranked North Carolina and Louisville before its tilt with the Gamecocks. USC will face yet another prominent big man in returning senior Chuck Hayes. The 6-foot-6-inch Hayes is putting up 14 i points and 11 rebounds a game this season. USC’s then gets into the swing of its conference schedule, with games against Georgia, LSU and Tennessee before taking on nationally ranked Mississippi State on the road Jan. 22. -v Comments on this story? E-mail frgmecockspo!ts@fiyvm. sc.edu KATIE KIRKLAND/THE GAMECOCK Senior guard Josh Gonner dunks in the first half of Wednesday's win over Appalachian State. Gonner and USC will face three top-20 opponents over the students’ winter bteak, two of which are on the road. WINTER BREAK . GAME SCHEDULE Dec. 14 —vs. South Florida, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18 — at Kansas, 8 p.m. Dec. 20 — at East Carolina, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 22 — vs. SC State, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 29 — at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. Dec. 31— vs. Wofford, 6 p.m. Jan. 5 — at Kentucky, 8 p.m. Dec. 8 — vs. Georgia, 8 p.m. NICK ESARES/THE GAMECOCK Sophomore forward Larissa Kulscar fends off a Charlotte defender in USC’s recent loss to the 49ers. Carolina is 1-4. Women's hoops to face 10 teams in crucial games ■ USC to attempt to reboundfrom disappointing start By STEPHEN DEMEDIS STAFF WRITER The USC women’s basketball team will look to rebound from its 1 -4 start in 10 games scheduled during winter break. The team will play three games on the road and start SEC play before spring semester begins. The Gamecocks will open the 10 game stretch at home against Florida A&M on Dec. 14. Carolina defeated A&M last year early in the season, 96 66. This year the Rattlers are 1-2. Two days later, the N.C. State Wolfpack will come to town to take on the Gamecocks. State is off to an impressive 3-1 start after its latest win over Louisville. The Wolfpack’s only loss on the season came against Tennessee by just 10 points. The Gamecocks will go on the road for the second time this season when they travel to Murfreesboro, Tenn., to play Middle Tennessee State on Dec. 18. The Blue Raiders will be aided by the expected return of senior Stephany omith, who has been sidelined by injuries. MTSU is 4-3 on the year. Carolina will enjoy a four-game home stand when it returns from Tennessee. Before breaking for Christmas, the team will face Birmingham Southern on Dec. 20 and S.C. State on Dec. 22. The Bulldogs are 2-2 after losing close games to Pittsburgh and Savannah State. On-Dec. 30, the team will host the USC Tournamept Championship, including Carolina, Campbell, Coastal Carolina and Seton Hall. USC is slotted to play Coastal in the first game. If they beat the Chanticleers, the Gamecocks will play the winner of the Campbell and Seton Hall game. Last year, Carolina dropped a game to Seton Hall in South Orange, N'j., 57 46. This year, the Pirates are off to a rmicrK cMrf it 9-^ The team will hit the road for one last time for a non-conference game in Charlottesville, Va, on Jan. 1, 2005. UVA will be the third ACC opponent that Carolina will face this season. The Cavaliers are 4-3 after dropping games to Russia and Arizona State. In its most recent win over Liberty, Virginia had four scorers in double digits. SEC play will start Jan. 6 when USC hosts Mississippi State in Columbia. The Bulldogs won last year’s meeting by 10 and are off to a 4 3 start after just beating No. 21 Louisiana Tech in their last game. The Gamecocks will face a tough WINTER GAME SCHEDULE Dec. 14 — vs. Florida A&M.5 p.m. Dec. 16 —vs. N.C. State, 7 p.m. Dec. 18 — at Middle Tennessee State, 8 p.m. i Dec. 20 — vs. Birmingham Southern.7 p.m. Dec. 22 —vs. S.C. State, 6 p.m. Dec. 29 — vs. Coastal Carolina, 7:45 p.m. Jan. 2 —at Virginia, 12:30 p.m. Dec. 5—vs. Mississippi, 7 p.m. test in their next game on the road against No. 13 Vanderbilt on Jan. 19. Carolina also lost to the Commodores last year by a score of 62-41. Vanderbilt is undefeated at 6-0. During the break, Carolina will turn to its main bright spot, sophomore Lauren Simms, to carry the team. The Columbia native is the team’s leading scorer with 72 points on the year. The Gamecocks’ next highest scorer has 33 total points. From her guard position, Simms is not only averaging 18 points per game, but is also second on the team with six steals. Carolina will have to rally around its sophomore sensation in order to have a successful year. The team will, look to get a jump on improving last year’s 10-18 record by playing well between semesters. Comments on this story? 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