Lamont Paris’ South Carolina basketball team took a trip to the Bahamas for a run of exhibition games against international competition. The trip, according to the Gamecock headman, is more about team bonding than about basketball, but it will be the first organized basketball against an opponent that many of these players have been a part of together.
Playing in a ballroom fitted with a temporary basketball court, the Gamecocks took on Zalgiris-2, the reserve team for a Lithuanian professional squad.
In the first “game action” for a number of newcomers to the South Carolina basketball roster, there was no means of watching the Gamecocks play in the Bahamas (and there won’t be for the team’s second game on Sunday, either), but the official Gamecock Men’s Basketball Twitter account provided updates on the hardcourt proceedings in paradise.
In a 4-quarter format instead of a 2-half brand of basketball like most men’s college basketball contests, Carolina got out to a quick lead of 14-4 thanks to some made shots from outside, including two from senior transfer point guard Ta’Lon Cooper. The 1st quarter ended with the Gamecocks up 24-17.
The Lithuanian squad stormed back as the Gamecocks failed to make enough shots in the 2nd period. Trailing by one with just a few seconds to go in the half, the Gamecocks inbounded the ball to Meechie Johnson who banked in a 60-footer at the buzzer to go up 36-34.
A solid offensive 3rd quarter ended with another buzzer-beater as Johnson found Wofford transfer forward BJ Mack open for a 3-pointer that fell through the net as time expired, extending the South Carolina lead to nine points at 59-50.
The 4th quarter was all Gamecocks as Myles Stute made three 3s (his 3rd, 4th, and 5th of the game), and the Carolina defense stifled Zalgaris-2’s offensive efforts.
The strong second half from the Gamecocks led to an 86-59 victory for South Carolina basketball.
The only real takeaway from an exhibition like one is that the Gamecocks appeared to be hunting and making outside shots, a good sign in modern basketball.
True freshman Collin Murray-Boyles appeared to play a lot alongside returning guard Meechie Johnson and senior transfers Ta’Lon Cooper, BJ Mack, and Myles Stute.
Returners Jacobi Wright and Zachary Davis were in several of the short highlights on Twitter, and Stephen Clark knocked down a 3 in one video, a trait he was not known for at The Citadel.
The Gamecocks will play again on Sunday, but there will be no live stream or television viewing options. South Carolina basketball fans can follow along on Twitter by following @GamecockMBB.