COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina mentor Lamont Paris by no means considered he experienced a very last-location crew and has watched with a grin as his 18th-rated Gamecocks have proved him appropriate.
The most up-to-date evidence came Saturday when Meechie Johnson experienced 25 factors, including a go-in advance 3-pointer with 43.4 seconds left, to gasoline South Carolina’s rally from 10 details down in the 2nd half in an 82-76 victory about No. 24 Florida.
“Lots of doubts around these fellas,” Paris, the second-calendar year mentor, explained with a grin. His workforce was picked by the media to finish very last in the Southeastern Meeting in Oct. Now, moving into the last 7 days of the normal time, the Gamecocks (24-5, 12-4) have a likelihood to earn a conference title.
“I realized what we experienced, I understood what our guys had been about,” explained Paris, who went 11-21 his to start with season a calendar year ago. “I realized we experienced winning fellas, who required to win.”
That was obvious in the second fifty percent when they came back from 56-46 down to gain for the 10th time in their past 12 game titles.
Johnson led the way with 21 of his points in the closing 20 minutes. He also experienced two critical steals as Florida tried using to regain the direct. Johnson had three tie-breaking pictures in the ultimate 5 minutes, including his 3-pointer from the remaining elbow prolonged that place the Gamecocks forward for very good.
“I just felt very good. I felt self-assured,” explained Johnson, the Ohio State transfer.
The Gators (20-9, 10-6) had relied on robust defense to create their next-50 % guide, but could not have Johnson, the team’s major scorer this time. His driving layup with five minutes to perform gave South Carolina its initially direct due to the fact early in the match, 65-63.
Florida tied points at 74-all with 1:12 remaining on Walter Clayton Jr.’s sixth 3-pointer prior to Johnson struck for the match-winner.
Collin Murray-Boyles, a freshman, concluded with his first job double-double with 15 details and 11 rebounds.
Jacobi Wright experienced 16 details, 12 in the 1st 50 percent, to hold South Carolina near enough to rally down the stretch.
Clayton had 20 points and Zyon Pullin scored 18 for the Gators.
THE Big Picture
Florida: The Gators, tied for fourth in the SEC coming in, had won 9 of their earlier 11 and seemed on the way to yet another victory. Their late fade may possibly have expense them a shot at a top rated-4 seed and a minor further rest ahead of the SEC Match in two months.
South Carolina: The Gamecocks, third in the league, have a legit shot at coming absent with an SEC title if they can beat No. 4 Tennessee in the season’s previous house recreation.
DEFENSIVE Modify
Component of South Carolina’s comeback was a alter in defense to a 1-3-1 zone. The swap worked with the Gamecocks forcing eight of Florida’s 12 turnovers in the winning rally. “We weren’t that aggressive in attacking it and we turned it over a whole lot,” Florida coach Todd Golden explained.
UP Subsequent
Florida: Closes its dwelling period towards Alabama on Tuesday night.
South Carolina: Ends its home season towards Tennessee on Wednesday night time.
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