B.J. Mack hit a late 3-point basket and a go-ahead free throw as South Carolina scored the final six points to defeat host East Carolina 68-62 on Saturday afternoon at Greenville, N.C.
Ta’Lon Cooper connected on three of four free throws in the last 18 seconds and Zachary Davis hit two more as the Gamecocks (8-1) bounced back from their first loss of the season. The teams were involved in a back-and-forth stretch in the second half.
Meechie Johnson and Myles Stute finished with 15 points apiece and Mack ended up with 13 as the Gamecocks avenged a loss from last season.
RJ Felton had 15 points, Ezra Ausar and Bobby Pettiford Jr. each posted 14 points and Brandon Johnson had 10 points as four East Carolina starters reached double figures. The Pirates (6-4), who had a two-game winning streak snapped, shot 39.6 percent from the field and made 15 of 23 foul shots.
The teams were tied at 50-50 with less than eight minutes left and again at 56-all after Johnson’s 3-pointer for the Gamecocks with four minutes remaining.
Ausar countered with a pair of free throws. South Carolina went back up on a Johnson basket before Pettiford and Mack traded 3s in a 19-second stretch.
Mack had missed his first three attempts from behind the arc. Pettiford’s basket tied the score at 62-62 with 52 seconds remaining.
Whether it was a matter of shoddy shooting or solid defense, the teams had trouble stringing together points for much of the game.
East Carolina scored nine straight points early in the second half to pull ahead at 40-38.
South Carolina, which failed to protect an 11-point, second-half lead Wednesday night at No. 24 Clemson, led 35-28 at halftime.
East Carolina shot only 35.7 percent in the first half, including 3-for-12 on 3s. The Gamecocks made six long-range shots prior to the break.
–Field Level Media
