Clemson scores rivalry win over short-handed Gamecocks. What we learned
Frank Martin held his head in his hands as it shook.
His South Carolina team was 1-for-8 from the field with two turnovers in the first six minutes of the Gamecocks’ Saturday road contest against Clemson. The Tigers, too, had their struggles, making for a low-scoring affair early. Clemson found a groove at the right time, and came away with the 70-56 win at Littlejohn Coliseum.
“We had no answer for their physicality at the rim,” Martin said. “PJ Hall, Hunter Tyson, they just killed us in the paint. Then offensively, we could not get anything going in the paint to fight back, to try and put fouls on them or something just to get them out of the game. Credit to them. They just lined up and physically dominated us today.”
The Tigers (8-5) have now won six of the 11 contests played against South Carolina under head coach Brad Brownell.
Here are three takeaways from Saturday’s game.
Gamecocks playing short-handed
Because of positive COVID-19 tests on South Carolina’s team, playing the game against Clemson was in question. The Gamecocks, however, had enough negative tests to travel.
The group was without five players, including forward AJ Wilson, who was out with a knee injury. The Gamecocks were missing starters James Reese V and Wildens Leveque, as well as key reserves Devin Carter and Josh Gray, who were all in COVID protocol.
South Carolina (8-3) rotated nine of the 11 available players through the first half. Jermaine Couisnard, who was questionable with an ankle injury, played 19 of the first 20 minutes but logged five minutes in the second half. Martin said although Couisnard tried to “gut it out,” he wishes he would’ve told his player not to play.
Chico Carter stepped up and scored seven points during the Gamecocks’ 12-0 run that began with a dunk from Ja’Von Benson at the 11:58 mark of the second half.
Chico Carter, who was averaging 8.1 minutes per game, put up a game-high 21 points in Saturday’s contest in 30 minutes played, while Benson had six points.
“Chico can score,” Martin said. “Chico has a really good understanding of how to put the ball in the basket. He continues to try to understand our defensive system, which it’s simple and it’s the X and O part, but it requires an unbelievable amount of discipline and that’s his challenge right now is to continue to grow defensively.”
Capitalizing on opportunity
Clemson had an off night shooting and, at one point, didn’t make a shot for a nearly seven-minute period midway through the first half. The Tigers, however, found ways to make up for the scoring woes until they found their shots.
Clemson won the rebounding battle 51-35 and scored 16 second-chance points.
“It was good for our team to win a game where we don’t shoot it,” Brownell said. “We’ve been winning games with a lot of threes. Today we did it with a lot of good defense for the most part, aggressive rebounding. I just thought it was good for us to win a tough game in a tough manor. Pleased with our team.”
Hunter Tyson led the way with 18 points to complement 13 rebounds for a double-double.
Despite the Gamecocks’ comeback attempt during the latter stages of the second half, the Tigers did just enough to come away with a third straight win.
Spark off the bench
While Clemson’s team as a whole struggled to drain shots, Alex Hemenway didn’t. The reserve guard made two 3-pointers during the Tigers’ 16-0 run during the second half.
Hemenway made the first trey right after Chico Carter’s two free throws at the 16:54 mark of the final frame to narrow the Tigers’ lead, 36-27. Hemenway went 3-for-4 beyond the arc for nine points on the night.
“It don’t matter where he is, if he’s playing four minutes or he’s playing for 40. He’s going to get them up and we know they’re going in,” Hall said of his teammate. “Anytime he lets the ball go ... I’m pretty sure it’s going to go in, so we’re real confident in him. He’s playing real well right now.”
USC’s Benson ended the Tigers’ run with his dunk.
Next games
▪ Clemson at Virginia, 8 p.m. Wednesday, John Paul Jones Arena (ACC Network)
▪ South Carolina vs Army, 3 p.m. Wednesday, Colonial Life Arena (SEC Network Plus)
Clemson 70, South Carolina 56
SOUTH CAROLINA (8-2): Bryant 2-12 1-2 5, Minott 0-0 0-1 0, Couisnard 1-3 2-2 5, Stevenson 3-12 3-5 10, Wright 2-6 0-0 5, C.Carter 5-13 9-10 21, Martin 2-3 0-0 4, Benson 3-6 0-0 6, Woodley 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-55 15-20 56.
CLEMSON (8-4): Hall 5-14 6-8 16, Tyson 6-12 6-9 18, Collins 4-11 3-4 12, Dawes 2-12 3-4 8, Honor 0-7 2-2 2, Hemenway 3-5 0-0 9, Hunter 1-2 1-2 3, Bohannon 0-0 0-0 0, Schieffelin 0-0 2-2 2, Middlebrooks 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-63 23-31 70.
Halftime—Clemson 30-24. 3-Point Goals—South Carolina 5-20 (C.Carter 2-4, Wright 1-2, Couisnard 1-3, Stevenson 1-6, Martin 0-1, Benson 0-2, Bryant 0-2), Clemson 5-22 (Hemenway 3-4, Collins 1-2, Dawes 1-9, Hall 0-1, Honor 0-3, Tyson 0-3). Fouled Out—Woodley. Rebounds—South Carolina 33 (Stevenson 7), Clemson 45 (Tyson 13). Assists—South Carolina 5 (Stevenson, Wright, C.Carter, Martin, Benson 1), Clemson 10 (Dawes 3). Total Fouls—South Carolina 29, Clemson 18.
This story was originally published December 18, 2021 at 8:18 PM with the headline "Clemson scores rivalry win over short-handed Gamecocks. What we learned."
