Davidson Defeats South Carolina in Charleston Classic, 69-60

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Foster Loyer scored 18 points and Sam Mennenga scored 15 and Davidson used a 10-2 run in the second half to beat South Carolina 69-60 on Friday night.

The Gamecocks led 29-25 halftime, but after the break Connor Kochera made a layup and followed with a 3-pointer to give Davidson (4-1) a 42-38 lead and the Wildcats stayed ahead the rest of the game.

Kochera scored 12 points on 4-for-8 shooting.

Davidson sank mid-range baskets and 3s against the Gamecocks’ zone defense and continued their strong shooting when South Carolina (2-2) went to man-to-man. The Wildcats moved the ball effectively distributing 17 assists on 26-made baskets.

The Wildcats held off South Carolina’s Chico Carter Jr. who missed tying his career high with 26 points on 9-for-14 shooting including 6 of 8 from 3-point range.

Gregory “GG” Jackson II scored 12 points and Hayden Brown 10 for South Carolina.

KEY STAT
After shooting 40 percent the first half, Davidson shot 48.4 percent (15-for-31) the final 20 minutes, knocking down six 3s. After scoring just two points on 1-of-4 shooting the first half, Davidson’s leading scorer, Foster Loyer, scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half, making four 3s.

NOTABLES

• Chico Carter Jr. finished with a season-high 26 points. He went 9-for-14 from the floor and 6-of-8 from behind the arc. His six 3s were a new career high.
• Three players scored in double figures for Carolina: Carter Jr. (26), Gregory “GG” Jackson II (12) and Hayden Brown (10). Jackson II has now scored in double figures his first four games in Garnet & Black.
• Jackson II finished with a team-high nine rebounds.

UP NEXT
South Carolina (2-2) will face Furman (2-2) in its final game of the Shriner’s Hospital Charleston Classic on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 10:30 a.m. (ET) on ESPNews. Derek Jones (pxp) and former Gamecock assistant Perry Clark (analyst) will be on the call for the broadcast.

###