COLUMBIA, S.C. — In an exciting matchup on Thursday night, the South Carolina Gamecocks triumphed over the Mercer Bears with a score of 84-72. Jamarii Thomas led the Gamecocks with 19 points, while Zachary Davis added 18 points to secure the victory.
Thomas shot 5 for 10 from the field, impressively going 4 for 5 from beyond the arc and making 5 of 8 free throws. He also contributed defensively with three steals. Davis was effective, hitting 7 of his 12 attempts from the floor and grabbing five rebounds.
Collin Murray-Boyles was just shy of a double-double, scoring 16 points and pulling down nine rebounds. Jacobi Wright also made an impact, scoring 11 points.
For Mercer, Tyler Johnson was the standout player, leading the Bears with 15 points and hitting four 3-pointers. Teammates Alex Holt and Angel Montas Jr. each scored 14 points, while Ahmad Robinson added 13 points and eight assists before fouling out. Off the bench, TJ Grant contributed with 10 rebounds.
The Gamecocks started strong, with Thomas and Davis each scoring seven points in the first half to help the team to a 36-32 lead at halftime. Mercer kept the game competitive, with Cam Bryant contributing nine points and Johnson scoring seven.
In the second half, the Bears took the lead briefly when Robinson hit a three-pointer, making the score 60-59. However, the Gamecocks quickly regained control, and a three-pointer from Myles Stute pushed their lead to 70-62 with just over seven minutes remaining. South Carolina never looked back, and a dunk from Murray-Boyles solidified their lead.
This game marked the first meeting between the two teams since December 30, 2001.
Key Stats:
- South Carolina set a season-high with 12 three-pointers, tying for the fourth-most during coach Lamont Paris’s tenure.
- The Gamecocks outscored the Bears 29-21 in bench points and held a significant 11-3 advantage in fast break points.
Notable Highlights:
- South Carolina has now beaten Mercer four consecutive times, with this being their first victory over the Bears since 2001.
- Jamarii Thomas had a season-high 19 points, hitting four three-pointers.
- Zachary Davis recorded a career-high 18 points off the bench and was effective throughout the game.
- Collin Murray-Boyles shot an impressive 6 for 7 from the floor and made both three-point attempts, scoring 16 points.
Looking Ahead:
The Gamecocks are set to compete in the Fort Myers Tip-Off next, facing Xavier on Monday. The match is scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m. (ET) and will be broadcast on FS1. After facing Xavier, they will play either Virginia Tech or Michigan later in the week.
