Nov 29, 2002

Box Score?|? Quotes

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – South Carolina got 25 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists from guard Chuck Eidson — the first triple-double in Carolina history — and the Gamecocks survived a determined run by South Carolina State in the second half to beat the Bulldogs 82-65 Friday night at the Carolina Center.

South Carolina got off to a fast start with a 16-0 run in the first 4:27 of the game. The Gamecocks made six of their first seven shots from the field, including four-of-four from 3-point range.

The Bulldogs (0-2) trailed by as many as 20 points in the first half, but cut South Carolina’s lead to 40-32 with an 18-6 run at the half. In the second half, they came within three points twice.

Moses Malone Jr. led South Carolina State with 22 points.

Leading by four with 4:53 to play, South Carolina (2-0) closed the game with a 15-4 run.

Both teams were plagued by turnovers, with South Carolina State giving up 24, South Carolina 23.

But big problems happened off court, too. Shot clock errors in the new arena stopped the game five times in the first five minutes – contributing to a first half that took 57 minutes to complete. After the fifth stoppage, the score, as well as the time, was kept by the officials on the floor.

South Carolina starting center Tony Kitchings suffered broke two metacarpal bones in his left hand in the first half. He did not return to the game in the second half and is out indefinitely.

“I thought we played with upper Division 1 intensity,” South Carolina State Coach Cy Alexander said. “If I can get that kind of effort every night, we’ll be in good shape when we start conference play.”

“Obviously, we had a great start,” South Carolina Coach Dave Odom said. “Obviously we were not able to sustain it. South Carolina State took advantage of that and finished up the half in great shape. It was a game the rest of the way.”