South Carolina basketball: Erik Stevenson bounces back in UAB win

South Carolina basketball coach Frank Martin never lost his trust in transfer guard Erik Stevenson. The definition of “shooters shoot,” Stevenson had fired off 25 three-point attempts over the team’s first three contests. He connected on just two of those first 25 shots.

Coach Martin’s faith in the newcomer paid off during a huge non-conference win over Conference USA favorite UAB on Thursday night.

Stevenson converted three of his five three-point attempts last night on his way to a season-high 15 points. He also added a steal, a block, and a handful of boards to prove to Gamecock fans that he can become the all-around threat that he was brought to Columbia to be.

Stevenson’s confidence should skyrocket following the performance, as should the South Carolina basketball team’s. Don’t get things twisted, this UAB squad is legit.

The roster boasts four transfers from SEC programs, one from Clemson, and another from Seton Hall. Remember, it was UAB who entered the matchup as a road favorite. The team is talented and they gave the Gamecocks all that they could handle last night.

South Carolina basketball lands resume building win

Stevenson wasn’t the only newcomer to make a difference in the team’s victory. Transfer James Reese totaled 14 points, connecting on four three-pointers, while freshman Devin Carter’s role continues to expand.

Carter scored 12 points off the bench and connected on four clutch free throws down the stretch to preserve the South Carolina win.

The Gamecocks also got surprise performances from a couple of unexpected bigs. Frank Martin’s son, Brandon, landed his first start of the year, recording a team-high eight rebounds. Martin didn’t do much on offense but his success on the glass gave the Gamecocks second-chance opportunities throughout the night.

The same can be said of Wildens Leveque, who’s shown the most growth of any player on the team. Leveque earned a starting role over the offseason following a couple of inconsistent seasons in Columbia.

He’s since evolved into not only the team’s top rebounder but also a scoring threat down low. Free throw shooting has improved, as noted by his 7-for-8 performance last night, and he’s getting to the line early and often.

The big man is averaging nearly a double-double on the year at 11.8 points and 9.0 boards a night. He’s converting a career-high 65% of his shots, becoming a major contributor for the Gamecocks in the paint.

South Carolina will look to keep things rolling next week with an instate matchup against the Wofford Terriers.