Gamecocks earn share of 1st place with victory
SOUTH CAROLINA 94, LSU 83
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Sindarius Thornwell scored 24 points, and Michael Carrera had 14 of his 16 points in the second half as South Carolina gained a share of first place in the SEC, holding off Ben Simmons and LSU 94-83 on Wednesday night.
Simmons put on another dazzling display with 20 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Yet, the Gamecocks used a 17-8 run in the second half fueled by freshmen PJ Dozier and Raymond Doby to take control after LSU had tied the game at 60-60.
The Tigers (15-9, 8-3) got as close as 85-81 after Simmons’ foul shot in the final minute. But the Gamecocks (21-3, 8-3) made 7 of 8 free throws after that to seal things and move into a first-place tie in the SEC with the Tigers and No. 22 Kentucky — South Carolina’s next opponent here Saturday.
Antonio Blakeney had 22 points to lead the Tigers.
Duane Notice had 15 points and Dozier 12 for the Gamecocks.
Dozier’s three-point play with 8:55 left — he was fouled by Simmons — put South Carolina up for good 63-60. Dozier followed with a jumper, and when he finished off another three-point play three minutes later, the Gamecocks were up 77-68.
Both LSU and South Carolina had shaken off bad stretches to contend for the top of the SEC.
The Tigers were 3-3 after losing to College of Charleston 70-56 on Nov. 30 in their last visit to the Palmetto State. But they’ve gone 12-5 since behind freshmen Simmons and Blakeney. They came in here having won four of five with the only loss a 77-75 heartbreaker
to then-No. 1 Oklahoma on Jan. 30.
The Gamecocks opened the season 15-0, but went through a 4-3 run during SEC play before rebounding with an 81-78 victory over then-eighth-ranked Texas A&M on Saturday.
South Carolina used several of its big bodies to force Simmons away from the basket on one end, even forcing him into a missed chippy from close in the opening half. They also took it right at LSU’s versatile big man on defense and Simmons sat for the final eight minutes of the opening half with two fouls.
Simmons heated up in the second half with several inside buckets, including a two-handed jam that drew oohs from the crowd.
ALABAMA 63, NO. 15 TEXAS A&M 62
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Retin Obasohan scored 16 points and Alabama held off a big rally from No. 15 Texas A&M for a victory, the Aggies’ third consecutive loss.
The Crimson Tide (14-9, 5-6 SEC) beat their fourth ranked opponent of Avery Johnson’s debut season despite missing its final three shots. Anthony Collins was fouled on a drive with 2.3 seconds left but missed both free throws for the Aggies (18-6, 7-4). They’ve dropped four consecutive SEC games since a 7-0 league start, tumbling from a program-best No. 5 ranking.
Jalen Jones had 21 points and seven rebounds for Texas A&M.
VANDERBILT 86, MISSOURI 71
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Wade Baldwin IV scored 17 points, leading five starters with at least 10, and the Vanderbilt Commodores routed Missouri for their second victory in three games.
The Commodores (14-10, 6-5 SEC) improved to 11-2 at Memorial Gym this season.
Luke Kornet scored 13 points and grabbed 12 rebounds with five blocks. Damian Jones had 14 points before fouling out, Matthew Fisher-Davis had 13 and Jeff Roberson 12.
Missouri (8-16, 1-10) lost its ninth consecutive.
Ryan Rosburg scored a career-high 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Tigers. Jakeenan Gant added 16 points in his return from a one-game suspension. Namon Wright had 11 and Kevin Puryear 10.
In other top 25 men’s games Wednesday, Jajuan Johnson scored 16 points and hit a key three-pointer with 1:16 left in the second overtime, and Marquette outlasted No. 20 Providence 96-91. Henry Ellenson had 26 points and 16 rebounds, and the Golden Eagles (169, 5-7 Big East) overcame 42 points by Providence’s Ben Bentil . ... Al Freeman scored 21 points, Taurean Prince had 18 and No. 21 Baylor beat cold-shooting Kansas State 82-72 to remain a game back of the leaders in the Big 12 race. Playing without leading rebounder Rico Gathers due to illness, the Bears (18-6, 7-4) opened on an 8-2 run, led by as many as 14 in the first half and never trailed the rest of the way . ... Shaquille Harrison had 21 points, Pat Birt hit a crucial three-pointer and scored 12 of his 17 points after halftime and Tulsa rallied from eight points down in the second half to beat No. 16 SMU 8277. Nic Moore scored 27 to lead the Mustangs (20-3, 9-3 AAC). … Zach Smith made two free throws with 18 seconds remaining in overtime to lead Texas Tech past No. 14 Iowa State 8582. Aaron Ross (Little Rock Parkview) scored 20 points and Devaugntah Williams added 19 to lead Texas Texas (149, 4-7 Big 12).