In a tough start to SEC play, the South Carolina Gamecocks (10-4, 0-1 SEC) were overpowered by Mississippi State (13-2, 1-0 SEC), losing 85-50 at Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville on Saturday, January 4, 2025.
The Gamecocks struggled right out of the gate, shooting just 18 points in the first half as Mississippi State built a commanding lead. The Bulldogs shot an impressive 43 points in the first 20 minutes, leaving South Carolina with a significant deficit to overcome.
Mississippi State came out firing, led by strong offensive contributions from their entire lineup. Their defense was stifling, forcing South Carolina into mistakes and limiting them to only 33% shooting in the first half. While the Gamecocks went into halftime with a 25-point deficit, there was still hope that they could make a second-half push.
One of the few bright spots for South Carolina came from guard Zachary Davis, who scored a team-high 22 points in the game. Davis also grabbed 3 rebounds but struggled to find much help on the offensive end. His 22 points accounted for nearly half of South Carolina’s total, but it was not enough to counteract Mississippi State’s all-around dominance.
Forward Collin Murray-Boyles gave South Carolina some much-needed presence in the paint, grabbing 10 rebounds to go along with 5 points. However, his efforts on the glass were not enough to keep Mississippi State from asserting their dominance inside. Guard Jamarii Thomas added 6 points, along with 3 rebounds, but South Carolina’s shooting woes and turnover issues hindered any potential offensive rhythm.
South Carolina’s shooting did not improve in the second half. Despite a solid scoring performance from Davis, they could not make a serious dent in Mississippi State’s lead. The Bulldogs scored another 42 points in the final half and comfortably cruised to an 85-51 victory.
Team Stats
• South Carolina shot 29% (16 for 55) and was 2 for 19 from 3-point distance. The Gamecocks had 14 turnovers and shot 16 for 23 from the line.
• Mississippi State shot 56% (35 for 62) from the field and outrebounded the Gamecocks 40-32.
Despite the heavy defeat, South Carolina will look to regroup as they prepare for the next challenge in SEC play. Head coach Lamont Paris and the team will need to address their shooting struggles and find better offensive flow moving forward.
• Zachary Davis: 22 points, 3 rebounds
• Collin Murray-Boyles: 5 points, 10 rebounds
• Jamarii Thomas: 6 points, 3 rebounds
The Gamecocks will aim to bounce back and continue their SEC campaign with their next game set for next week. Fans will be hoping for a better performance from the team as they strive to regain their form in the competitive conference.