Nov. 15, 2011

Final Stats

ELON, N.C. – The South Carolina men’s basketball team (1-1) suffered a 58-53 non-conference loss at Elon (1-1) on Tuesday. Freshman forward Anthony Gill and senior Malik Cooke led the Gamecocks with nine points each.

The team’s combined for 42 fouls in the game, with the Gamecocks called for 24 and Elon 18.

South Carolina shot just 31.3 percent (20-64) in the contest, including an 11.1 percent (3-27) mark from 3-point range.

Elon was led by Lucas Troutman with 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field and a 6-of-6 effort from the free throw line. Freshman guard Austin Hamilton chipped in 12 points and two assists.

Back and forth play was the story of the first part of the opening half. Two Troutman free throws gave Elon a 13-10 lead with 10:52 remaining in the first half.

The teams traded layups to follow, before consecutive dunks by sophomore guard Brian Richardson followed by a jumper by sophomore guard Eric Smith gave the Gamecocks their first lead of the game at 20-19 with just over four minutes remaining before halftime.

Elon regained the lead on two Kevin Blake free throws at the 3:52 mark and the Phoenix capitalized during the final minutes of the half to hold an 11-point lead at 34-23 at the break.

South Carolina used a 15-6 run through the first eight minutes of the second half to pull within two at 40-38. Foul trouble plagued the Gamecocks during the later portion of the contest, however, as both Cooke and junior guard Lakeem Jackson fouled out of the game.

Elon held the lead for the remainder of the second half and Ryley Beaumont hit four free throws with under 30 seconds remaining to close the win for the Phoenix.

South Carolina hosts Tennessee State on Sunday in its first contest of the Las Vegas Invitational. Game time is set for 6 p.m.