Nov. 17, 2003

Box Score?|? Quotes

Columbia, S.C. – By Jefferey Collins, Associated Press

South Carolina coach Dave Odom says his Gamecocks’ struggle with Gardner-Webb, a team that went 5-24 last season in its first year in Division I, was a learning experience.

South Carolina needed some clutch 3-pointers to keep from failing its first test, beating the Bulldogs 83-74 Monday night in the first round of the Guardians Classic.

“It was an opening game _ lots of mistakes, but lots of good things. There’s plenty to build on,” Odom said.

Plenty is right. Gardner-Webb’s game plan seemed to befuddle South Carolina until the Gamecock lead got too big late.

The Bulldogs used constant motion and most of their baskets came on lay-ups or putbacks for a whopping 48 points in the paint. And Gardner-Webb scored on nearly a dozen backdoor screens or other set plays, leading Odom to beg his team to pay attention on defense.

“The backdoor stuff that was intolerable. It was inexcusable,” Odom said.
The Gamecocks move on to play Idaho on Tuesday night in the second round of the exempt tournament, while the Bulldogs will play Elon in the consolation game.

Michael Boynton’s 3-pointer with 5:33 to go gave South Carolina the lead for good. Then, with the Gamecocks clinging to a one-point lead with just over two minutes left, freshman Tre Kelley and junior college transfer Josh Gonner each buried 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to push the Gamecock lead to 74-67 with 1:41 to go.

South Carolina hit 12 of 26 3-pointers, including eight of 15 in the second half. Gardner-Webb was just 4-of-24 (16.7 percent from behind the arc).

The players didn’t seem too troubled with the reliance on the long shot. “If we’re wide open, why not shoot it,” Gonner said.

Gardner-Webb coach Rick Scruggs couldn’t contain his excitement after the game and seemed stunned his team, who finished just 2-14 in the Atlantic Sun Conference and won just one road game, stayed with South Carolina.

“We’re still getting it out to our people that we’re in Division I,” Scruggs said.

Brian Bender led Gardner-Webb with 21 points and also had eight rebounds. Brendan Clowry added 10 points and 10 boards for the Bulldogs.

Six Gamecocks scored in double-figures, including Tarence Kinsey, who had 14 points and nine rebounds, Gonner, who also had 14 points and Kerbrell Brown, who had 11 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

The game was the debut of South Carolina coach Dave Odom’s more frenetic, transition oriented team. And it got poor reviews to start from a smallest-ever crowd of 5,317 at the Colonial Center as the Gamecocks put up bad shots and were slow getting back on defense, falling behind by as much as 11 in the first half.

South Carolina blamed nerves and trying to acclimate several newcomers for the slow start.

The Gamecocks, who are coming off a 12-16 season, were able to take their first lead since the game’s opening moments on a 3-pointer by Boynton with just under 15 minutes left. The long shot was about the only thing keeping South Carolina in the game as the Gamecocks hit five of six from behind the arc to start the second half.

South Carolina struggled with anything else, going just 14-of-45 from inside the arc, including close to two dozen shots inside or near the paint.

The Gamecocks missed the inside presence of senior center Rolando Howell, suspended for 10 games after pleading no contest to a domestic violence charge stemming from an incident where he choked his girlfriend. Gardner-Webb center Simon Conn, who averaged just four points and three rebounds last season, had 14 points and seven rebounds.

And while South Carolina was only outrebounded by one, they showed little strength. During one first-half offensive possession, the Gamecocks missed six shots and two free throws.

But Boynton said the team can’t worry about their weakness inside.

“We don’t have it,” Boynton said. “No sense pondering over what you don’t have.”