Heartbreaker in Columbia: Gamecocks fight hard but fall short against No. 2 Auburn

The South Carolina Gamecocks put on a spirited performance against the No. 2 Auburn Tigers, battling until the final moments in a thrilling SEC showdown. Despite missing two key guards, Myles Stute and Jamarii Thomas, the Gamecocks demonstrated resilience and grit. Freshman standout Collin Murray-Boyles shouldered the scoring load, dropping a career-high 25 points and keeping the crowd at Colonial Life Arena engaged throughout the game.

The Tigers overcame adversity of their own, losing their leading scorer Johni Broome to a left ankle injury early in the second half. However, Auburn’s depth proved to be the difference, with Tre Donaldson stepping up in clutch moments, including a late-game surge that sealed the Tigers’ narrow 66-63 victory.

South Carolina’s defense also deserves praise for holding a high-powered Auburn offense to one of their lowest-scoring games this season, forcing turnovers and keeping the Tigers uncomfortable on offense. Despite the loss, head coach Lamont Paris noted the growth in his young team, emphasizing their resilience against one of the nation’s best teams.

The Gamecocks (10-6, 0-3 SEC) will now turn their attention to an away game against Vanderbilt on January 15, hoping to secure their first conference win of the season.