Gamecocks Fall to UNF, 74-71

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Jaylen Smith scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half and North Florida rallied for a 74-71 victory over South Carolina in a season opener on Monday night.

North Florida trailed 36-31 at halftime and by five at 64-59 with 4:07 left to play after a layup by South Carolina’s Jacobi Wright. But Smith made two free throws, Kamrin Oriol and Jasai Miles hit 3-pointers, and Smith followed with a layup to cap a 10-2 run and put the Ospreys up 69-66 with 42 seconds to go.

Nate Lliteras hit both ends of a 1-and-1 and Smith added a three-point play with 9 seconds remaining to help North Florida hold on for the victory.

Liam Murphy hit four 3-pointers and scored 14 off the bench, adding six rebounds for the Ospreys. Lliters finished with 13 points and five boards. Miles totaled 11 points and nine rebounds. Oriol scored nine on 3-for-7 shooting from beyond the arc.

Preseason All-Southeastern Conference selection Collin Murray-Boyles had 17 points and seven rebounds for the Gamecocks. Zachary Davis, Jamarii Thomas and Wright, a reserve, all scored 12. Freshman Cam Scott, a homegrown product and two-time Gatorade Player of the Year in the state, debuted with six points and four rebounds in 21 minutes.

The only other time North Florida opened its season against South Carolina was in 2014. The Ospreys lost 81-56 but went on to win the Atlantic Sun Conference championship.

South Carolina head coach Lamont Paris, the reigning SEC Coach of the Year, falls to 2-1 in season openers with the Gamecocks.

KEY STAT

• North Florida grabbed 15 offensive rebounds and had a possession late in the game with multiple offensive rebounds that they would eventually score on. They out-rebounded the Gamecocks, 43-37 and held a 12-7 edge in second chance points as well.
• Carolina got to the free throw line 25 times but made just 14 foul shots, good for 56.0 percent.

NOTABLES

• Four players scored in double-figures for South Carolina led by sophomore forward Collin Murray-Boyles. He had 17 points, seven rebounds and matched his career high with four blocks.
• Senior Jacobi Wright, senior Jamari Thomas and junior Zachary Davis were the other Gamecocks in double figures, each scoring 12.
• Wright was an efficient 6-of-8 from the floor and led the time with six assists.
• Graduate Nick Pringle pulled down a team-high nine boards. He also added three blocks.

UP NEXT

The Gamecocks have two more home games before a road trip to Assembly Hall on Nov. 16 to face No. 17/18 Indiana. Carolina welcomes SC State Friday and Towson next Tuesday. Both games will tip at 7 p.m. (ET) on SEC Network+ with Dave Weinstein (pxp) and John Williams (analyst) on the call.

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