Gamecocks win a close one over SC State in men's basketball season opener
Nov. 08, 2022GG Jackson stood at the center of the Colonial Life Arena, waiting for the referee to toss the basketball in the air. Fittingly, he started South Carolina’s 2022-23 season as the center of attention. A new era began for the Gamecock men’s basketball team Tuesday night, with Jackson the highest-rated recruit in program history making his much-anticipated debut. And after 10 years of Frank Martin coaching the team, a brand new face in Lamont Paris patrolled the sidelines. Tuesday’s 80-77 win over visiting S.C. State was a messy sight at times, with the Bulldogs playing the Gamecocks surprisingly tight. Coming into the game, the Bulldogs ranked 350th among 363 Division I teams on KenPom.com, and the Gamecocks' was projected with a 99% chance to win.
The Gamecocks managed to pull out a close season-opening victory. “A lot, a lot, a lot of teaching moments out there,” Paris said after the win. “So we’ll get back into the lab, and we got to learn quickly. Because there were a lot of chances to make some winning plays.”
Lamont Paris postgame press conference
GG Jackson's postgame press conference
All of 17 years old, the 6-foot-9 forward from Ridge View High seemed to be pressing early in the game, forcing a few shots with defenders in his face. But he started to find more of a groove in the second half, finishing with 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting and leading the team with 10 rebounds, and securing a double-double.
Jackson admitted to some nerves before the game, but he said he grew more comfortable as the game went on. “I feel like I played to the best of my ability,” Jackson said. “During the national anthem, the whole time I had my head down and I was praying. I was asking God, ‘Please.’ And right in the middle of the prayer, I was like, ‘It may seem like I’m only praying because I need something, but I need you right now.’
The team’s starting lineup featured two more newcomers in the form of The Citadel transfer forward Hayden Brown and Ohio State transfer guard Meechie Johnson. Both players made their imprint on the Gamecocks from the get-go, with Brown showcasing his diverse skill set of rebounding, post moves, and dunking, and he consistently got to the free-throw line with his physicality in the paint. Brown led the Gamecocks with 21 points
Johnson dealt with a couple of injuries during the course of Tuesday’s matchup. In the first half, he rolled his right ankle trying to score on a fast break, and he limped straight into the locker room. He’d eventually come back into the game and finish off the first half. he wasn’t able to stay on the court due to injury. Johnson displayed his deep shooting touch by sinking a pair of 3-pointers and providing a burst of energy from the point guard position.
Hayden Brown postgame press conference
Brown was able to play after dealing with a minor injury that held him out of the Garnet & Black Madness fan event and the team’s exhibition against Mars Hill. But for the Gamecocks, projected starting forward Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk did not dress and was wearing a large boot on his right leg. Paris said the Illinois transfer has made progress, and it’s possible he’s available in “some capacity” on Friday against visiting Clemson.
FINAL STATS
