Columbia, S.C. – The South Carolina Gamecocks secured their first victory of the season, defeating the South Carolina State Bulldogs with a score of 86-64 on Friday night. Jacobi Wright starred for the Gamecocks, sinking four 3-pointers and finishing with 20 points. Meanwhile, Collin Murray-Boyles contributed significantly with 19 points and a career-high 16 rebounds.
Wright was particularly effective, hitting seven of ten shots, including four of seven from the 3-point line. Murray-Boyles, in his sophomore year, also had an impressive performance, shooting 7 of 8 and adding four assists to his stat line—it marked his first double-double after achieving two last season.
Jamarii Thomas also made his mark, scoring 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Zachary Davis added 10 points, six rebounds, and four assists to the Gamecock tally.
From the start, South Carolina took command. Davis’s jumper capped off a 7-0 run to open the game, giving the Gamecocks an early lead they maintained throughout. By halftime, Murray-Boyles had already tallied 12 points and eight rebounds, helping the team secure a 41-25 lead going into the locker room.
Despite South Carolina State making it a little closer early in the second half, they could not close the gap significantly. The Gamecocks maintained a strong defense, limiting the Bulldogs to just 35.8 percent shooting overall.
This game continued the Gamecocks’ dominance in this series, with South Carolina now holding a perfect 23-0 record against South Carolina State. The last meeting between these teams was at the start of the 2022-23 season, where the Gamecocks narrowly won 79-77.
Next, the Gamecocks are set to host Towson on Tuesday for another 7 p.m. (ET) matchup. Previous encounters with Towson include a win in 1997, and the Gamecocks aim to build on this momentum as they prepare for their upcoming games, which also include a tough match against No. 17/18 Indiana on Saturday.
Key Stats:
- South Carolina achieved 51 rebounds, matching their highest total since Lamont Paris became head coach.
- The team’s defense held the Bulldogs to a low shooting percentage.
Notable Performances:
- Wright’s new career-high of 20 points demonstrates his offensive capabilities.
- Murray-Boyles impressed with his 19 points and 16 rebounds, showing growth as a key player for the Gamecocks.
- Davis’s well-rounded performance added to the team’s success.
The Gamecocks look forward to building on this win as they continue their season.
