Nov 30, 2002

Box Score?|? Quotes

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – Chuck Eidson scored 16 points and became South Carolina’s all-time steals leader in a 71-56 victory over Appalachian State on Saturday night.

Carlos Powell had 15 points and Chris Warren 13 for the Gamecocks (3-0). But it was their defense, led by Eidson, that did the job against the Mountainaeers (2-1).

Appalachian State entered the game shooting 41 percent from three-point range. But the Gamecocks held them to just 2-of-23 from behind the arc.

Eidson chipped in two steals to give him 224 in his career, passing former leader Barry Manning.

Shawn Hall led Appalachian State with 15 points, but like his teammates was ice cold from the outside. He was 10-of-18 on 3-pointers on the season. However, Hall hit only one of his 10 long-range tries.

South Carolina went 5-of-9 on 3-pointers to lead 37-23 at the half.

The biggest problem for South Carolina may have been its recently opened 18,000-seat Carolina Center.

An automated fire alarm warning people to leave the building went off as starting lineups were being introduced. The alarm was set off by smoke in the concession area. There was no fire emergency and game was delayed 16 minutes.

In Friday night’s Gamecock win over South Carolina State, the scoreboard malfunctioned and shot clock times had to be announced by the public address announcer.