7-0! How South Carolina stayed undefeated with win over George Washington
Last year’s game against George Washington featured one of South Carolina’s worst shooting performances of the 2022-23 season. The Gamecocks were beaten on the road, but the return game was coming.
Friday night was that return game.
When guard Meechie Johnson scored the first 3-pointer of the night, he felt it. This return game would be nothing like last season’s loss. Instead, the Gamecocks made 18 3-pointers en route to an 89-67 win at Colonial Life Arena over the Revolutionaries and sit at 7-0 on the season.
Big time 3-pointers
After a dry spell behind the arc Tuesday night, South Carolina’s long-range shooting was drastically better Friday. The Gamecocks had stronger off ball movement, and they had more energy. It felt better.
South Carolina had eight 3-pointers by halftime. George Washington had five.
It was the best offensive half South Carolina had put together thus far this season. The Gamecocks were 52% in field goals, and their eight treys were the most they’d scored all season. After Johnson carried the load on Tuesday, the points were more spread out this go around.
“That’s why we emphasize shooting the ball,” Ta’Lon Cooper said.
USC grew colder in the second half, only scoring one 3-pointer in the first 10 minutes. That didn’t last long. With two minutes left to play, USC broke the school record for 3-pointers in a single game: 18 treys on 51% shooting beyond the arc.
BJ Mack, Meechie Johnson stay hot
Johnson and forward BJ Mack’s ability to score regardless of the opponent has been one of the biggest strengths to USC’s lineup all season.
After his career-high 29 points Tuesday night, Johnson could’ve taken a step back Friday — maybe let someone else get hot. He didn’t score 29 points, but got close with 24 to lead all scorers. Mack, who dropped 17 Tuesday night, followed closely behind with 20 points against the Revolutionaries.
The two have consistently played over 20 minutes per game and are averaging 16 points. That doesn’t include Myles Stute or Cooper, who both scored double-digit points Friday night.
Head coach Lamont Paris said Johnson and Mack both have the assumed role of as “the aggressive ones” when referring to the development of USC’s identity, making it easy for the Gamecocks to rely on the pair both during those less-than-stellar affairs and when USC makes it look easy.
“Everyone has kind of embraced that, including them,” Paris said. “But it’s great for those guys. The more consistent they can be, the better.”
Taking it on the road
USC has back-to-back road games ahead before a four-game homestand that closes out the nonconferene schedule. South Carolina has proven they can win at home and at neutral sites. Now it’s time for this team to win a true road game.
Head coach Lamont Paris called the win over Grand Canyon two weeks ago a road win, but South Carolina faces undefeated Clemson and a gritty East Carolina squad in the next week. Back-to-back home wins with at least two players scoring 17 points is enough to give the Gamecocks plenty of confidence heading into their toughest stretch of the season.
“If the number of text messages you get is any sort of indication, I think our staff certainly feel that,” Paris said on the excitement surrounding USC’s 7-0 start. “And I know our guys can. So that’s awesome for them.”
The high-flying energy USC had against the Revolutionaries is exactly what they need to bring to Clemson on Wednesday night.
“We’ll be ready,” Cooper said. “We’ll be really excited to play and we’re going to let the playing take care of itself.”
South Carolina’s next four games
- Dec. 6: at Clemson, 8 p.m. (ACC Network)
- Dec. 9: at East Carolina, Noon (ESPNU)
- Dec. 16: Charleston Southern, 6 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)
- Dec. 19: Winthrop, 7 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)
This story was originally published December 1, 2023 at 8:46 PM with the headline "7-0! How South Carolina stayed undefeated with win over George Washington."
