Box Score
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Tyrone Johnson scored a game-high 18 points to lead the University of South Carolina of the Southeastern Conference to an 82-44 season-opening men's basketball victory past visiting Longwood University on Saturday afternoon at the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina. Johnson led four players in double-figure scoring for the host Gamecocks (1-0), who led 37-15 at halftime. Senior Tristan Carey/Colonial Beach scored 12 points to lead the Lancers (0-1), who were playing their first game under new head coach Jayson Gee. Longwood will remain on the road to play at TCU (0-1) of the Big 12 Conference on Tuesday night, Nov. 12 at 8 p.m. at the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas. The TCU game will be televised on FOX Sports Southwest Plus.
"It was frustrating from the standpoint that we just couldn't score the ball," said Gee. "I thought we played well enough in the first half to be closer, but when you don't score against a team of that magnitude, you're going to struggle. What I love about basketball is that you do not have to wait seven days to play again. We'll go back at it tomorrow in practice and get a game plan ready to compete, and find a way to get some things done in Texas."
South Carolina scored the first six points of the contest, including three points from Johnson, before Carey made a jumper at 14:17 to make it 6-2. The Gamecocks extended their advantage to 18-4 at 11:04 behind back-to-back three-point field goals from Michael Carrera. A three-pointer off the bench by sophomore transfer Leron Fisher/Baltimore, Maryland sparked seven unanswered points by Longwood, including baskets from Carey and sophomore Lucas Woodhouse/Greenlawn, New York, as the Lancers were within 18-11 at 5:47. USC, however, responded with a 16-4 run to take control en route to leading 37-15 at halftime. Brenton Williams came off the bench to spark the hosts with 12 first-half points, including seven points during the late run that also featured three, three-pointers -- two to close the half by Duane Notice.
Longwood was never able cut into the margin during the second half, as South Carolina opened with a quick 16-4 run to lead 53-19 at 14:42. Johnson scored six points during the run, and Sindarius Thornwell also scored six points. It was still a 34-point margin at 63-29 following a three-pointer by Carey with 9:17 remaining, but the Lancers would get no closer, as the Gamecocks led by as many as 42 points at 74-32 with 4:41 on the clock after another jumper from Johnson.
Carey led Longwood with his 12 points. Woodhouse added nine points and a game-high four assists, while redshirt-junior Jeylani Dublin/Brooklyn, New York finished with eight points off the bench. Sophomore Karl Ziegler/Annandale contributed five points and seven rebounds, and freshman Isaac Belton/Salem had five points and a game-high three steals. Longwood shot 23% (13-57) from the field, including 18% (4-22) on three-pointers, and 64% (14-22) at the free throw line.
Johnson, a transfer from Villanova who gained his eligibility on Friday (Nov. 8), led South Carolina with his game-high 18 points. Thornwell and Williams each had 14 points for the Gamecocks, while Carerra finished with 12 points. Mindaugas Kacinas added a game-high 14 rebounds. USC shot 49% (28-57) from the field, including 30% (6-20) on three-pointers, and 83% (20-24) at the line.
Longwood and South Carolina were meeting for only the second time in the sport, and the Gamecocks lead the series, 2-0. The Lancers are now 0-6 all-time against members of the Southeastern Conference.
