May 5, 2024
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Collin Murray-Boyles scored 16 points, Josh Gray added 15 off the bench and South Carolina pulled away for a 72-62 win over Georgia on Saturday.
Murray-Boyles and Gray both were 7-of-9 shooting and the Gamecocks shot 52% (29 of 56), making it easy with assists on 25 baskets despite a soldout, hostile crowd at Stegeman Coliseum.
South Carolina has won five straight since a 74-69 home loss to the Bulldogs, including wins against then No. 6 Kentucky and No. 5 Tennessee.
Meechie Johnson had 11 points and Ta'lon Cooper 10 with eight assists for the Gamecocks (19-3, 7-2 Southeastern Conference).
Jabri Abdur-Rahim scored 20 points for the Bulldogs (14-8, 4-5). Blue Cain added 11 and Noah Thomasson 10.
After Murray-Boyles opened the game with a dunk, South Carolina didn't lead again until Zachary Davis had a pair of layups and Gray another to make it 49-47 with 14:02 to go.
Georgia got two quick baskets but then went 7:47 without a field goal. Gray had two baskets to start an 8-0 run and after Abdur-Rahim made two free throws Johnson drilled a 3-pointer for a 60-53 South Carolina lead with 6:30 to play.
Justin Hill ended the drought but BJ Mack started a 9-2 run with a 3-point play and the Gamecocks led 69-57 with 2:30 left.
Georgia had eight 3-pointers in the first half, seven in about eight minutes, and the Bulldogs took a 29-19 lead when RJ Melendez capped a fastbreak with a dunk. After making 7 of 10 behind the arc, Georgia went 2 of 18 the rest of the way.
Following the Melendez dunk the Gamecocks drained three-straight 3-pointers and added two more down the stretch and trailed 40-38 at the break.
Abdur-Rahim had 11 points for Georgia and Murray-Boyles had 10 for South Carolina in the first half. The visiting Gamecocks had 16 assists on 16 baskets.
Ole Miss visits South Carolina on Tuesday. Georgia goes to Mississippi State on Wednesday.
