South Carolina fends off feisty East Carolina in first visit to ECU since 1988
AP
Dec 09, 2023
GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) Meechie Johnson and Myles Stute scored 15 points apiece and South Carolina Gamecocks held on to beat East Carolina Pirates 68-62 on Saturday.
B.J. Mack added 13 points for the Gamecocks (8-1) which shot 43.8% (21 for 48 overall). Johnson, Stute and Mack combined to make 14 of the team's 21-made baskets.
RJ Felton scored 15 points, Ezra Ausar and Bobby Pettiford Jr. scored 14 points apiece and Brandon Johnson 10 for East Carolina (6-4).
Mack's 3-pointer with 1:22 left gave South Carolina a 62-60 lead and it never trailed again. Pettiford tied it after an ECU timeout before Mack made 1 of 2 foul shots with 37 seconds left for a 63-62 advantage. On its next possession, Ausar lost control of the ball underneath the basket and it went out of bounds. Ta'Lon Cooper made 1 of 2 fouls shots on South Carolina's next possession for a two-point lead. ECU's Pettiford turned it over on the Pirates next possession and Davis sank two foul shots with four seconds left for the final margin.
East Carolina rallied from a 35-28 halftime deficit and outscored the Gamecocks 12-3 and took its first lead at 40-38 on Ausar's soft layin in the lane.
The Gamecocks turned an 11-10 lead into a 23-12 margin with 3-pointers coming from Davis, two from Cooper and Morris Ugusuk with each make off an assist as South Carolina worked the ball around the perimeter to counter the Pirates' 2-3 zone.
East Carolina responded with a 12-3 run pushing the pace to get within 26-24 with 3:27 before halftime, but South Carolina outscored the Pirates 9-4 and went to intermission up 35-28.
Saturday marked the first time the Pirates had welcomed a Southeastern Conference opponent to Minges Coliseum since 2002 when ECU beat Ole Miss, 65-58.
The Gamecocks hadn't visited Minges Coliseum since Jan. 13, 1988, when South Carolina defeated ECU 78-51. The Pirates now are 2-3 in home games against South Carolina.
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1st Half
SCAR
Gamecocks
35
ECU
Pirates
28
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Stephen Clark vs. Brandon Johnson (Pirates gains possession)
19:42
B.J. Mack blocks Ezra Ausar's two point layup
19:40
Pirates offensive rebound
19:40
B.J. Mack personal foul
19:33
Brandon Johnson misses three point jump shot
19:31
Gamecocks defensive rebound
19:06
Meechie Johnson misses three point jump shot
19:04
Bobby Pettiford Jr. defensive rebound
19:00
Stephen Clark blocks Ezra Ausar's two point layup
18:58
Ta'Lon Cooper defensive rebound
18:45
+2
B.J. Mack makes two point hook shot
2-0
18:27
Brandon Johnson misses three point jump shot
18:25
Ta'Lon Cooper defensive rebound
18:12
Stephen Clark misses three point jump shot
18:10
RJ Felton defensive rebound
17:56
+2
Ezra Ausar makes two point reverse layup
2-2
17:37
Ezra Ausar shooting foul (B.J. Mack draws the foul)
17:37
+1
B.J. Mack makes regular free throw 1 of 2
3-2
17:37
+1
B.J. Mack makes regular free throw 2 of 2
4-2
17:22
Ezra Ausar turnover (lost ball)
17:08
Ezra Ausar personal foul (Stephen Clark draws the foul)
17:04
+3
Myles Stute makes three point jump shot (Meechie Johnson assists)
7-2
16:42
+3
Kalib LaCount makes three point pullup jump shot
7-5
16:24
+2
Myles Stute makes two point driving layup
9-5
16:00
Quentin Diboundje misses three point jump shot
15:58
RJ Felton offensive rebound
15:57
+2
RJ Felton makes two point putback layup
9-7
15:42
+2
Meechie Johnson makes two point driving layup
11-7
15:21
Jaden Walker misses two point layup
15:19
B.J. Mack defensive rebound
15:14
Ta'Lon Cooper turnover (bad pass) (Brandon Johnson steals)
15:13
Stephen Clark personal foul
15:13
TV timeout
14:54
Zachary Davis shooting foul (RJ Felton draws the foul)
14:54
RJ Felton misses regular free throw 1 of 2
14:54
+1
RJ Felton makes regular free throw 2 of 2
11-8
14:36
Ta'Lon Cooper misses three point jump shot
14:34
Pirates defensive rebound
14:13
RJ Felton misses three point jump shot
14:11
Callum Richard offensive rebound
13:54
Quentin Diboundje misses three point jump shot
13:52
Josh Gray defensive rebound
13:36
Myles Stute misses three point jump shot
13:34
Jaden Walker defensive rebound
13:15
Meechie Johnson personal foul (Bobby Pettiford Jr. draws the foul)
13:02
+2
Brandon Johnson makes two point turnaround jump shot
11-10
12:42
+3
Zachary Davis makes three point jump shot (Jacobi Wright assists)
14-10
12:27
Bobby Pettiford Jr. misses two point layup
12:25
Jacobi Wright defensive rebound
12:05
Josh Gray turnover (Kalib LaCount steals)
11:59
+2
Quentin Diboundje makes two point layup (Kalib LaCount assists)
14-12
11:36
+3
Ta'Lon Cooper makes three point jump shot (Myles Stute assists)
17-12
10:59
Quentin Diboundje misses three point jump shot
10:57
Pirates offensive rebound
10:57
Pirates turnover (shot clock violation)
10:57
TV timeout
10:37
+3
Ta'Lon Cooper makes three point jump shot (Jacobi Wright assists)
20-12
10:16
Jaden Walker misses two point jump shot
10:14
Ta'Lon Cooper defensive rebound
9:47
Jacobi Wright misses three point jump shot
9:45
Jacobi Wright offensive rebound
9:34
+3
Morris Ugusuk makes three point jump shot (Ta'Lon Cooper assists)
23-12
9:22
Pirates 30 second timeout
9:09
RJ Felton misses three point jump shot
9:07
Gamecocks defensive rebound
8:40
Jacobi Wright misses three point jump shot
8:38
Bobby Pettiford Jr. defensive rebound
8:32
Collin Murray-Boyles shooting foul (Jaden Walker draws the foul)
8:32
+1
Jaden Walker makes regular free throw 1 of 2
23-13
8:32
Jaden Walker misses regular free throw 2 of 2
8:32
B.J. Mack defensive rebound
8:04
Morris Ugusuk misses three point jump shot
8:02
Bobby Pettiford Jr. defensive rebound
7:54
Meechie Johnson personal foul
7:54
TV timeout
7:45
Ezra Ausar misses two point jump shot
7:43
B.J. Mack defensive rebound
7:28
Zachary Davis turnover (bad pass)
7:11
Morris Ugusuk shooting foul (RJ Felton draws the foul)
7:11
+1
RJ Felton makes regular free throw 1 of 2
23-14
7:11
+1
RJ Felton makes regular free throw 2 of 2
23-15
7:02
+2
Collin Murray-Boyles makes two point driving finger roll layup
25-15
6:49
+3
Bobby Pettiford Jr. makes three point stepback jump shot
25-18
6:14
Callum Richard personal foul (Collin Murray-Boyles draws the foul)
6:14
Collin Murray-Boyles misses regular free throw 1 of 2
6:14
+1
Collin Murray-Boyles makes regular free throw 2 of 2
26-18
5:58
Myles Stute shooting foul (Quentin Diboundje draws the foul)
5:58
Quentin Diboundje misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:58
+1
Quentin Diboundje makes regular free throw 2 of 2
26-19
5:33
Jacobi Wright misses three point jump shot
5:31
Collin Murray-Boyles offensive rebound
5:25
Collin Murray-Boyles misses two point layup
5:23
Jaden Walker defensive rebound
5:17
Brandon Johnson misses three point jump shot
5:15
Ta'Lon Cooper defensive rebound
5:02
Jacobi Wright misses three point jump shot
5:00
Jaden Walker defensive rebound
4:50
+2
Jaden Walker makes two point layup
26-21
4:28
Ta'Lon Cooper misses three point jump shot
4:26
Brandon Johnson defensive rebound
3:58
Ezra Ausar turnover (traveling)
3:58
TV timeout
3:37
Stephen Clark misses two point hook shot
3:35
Brandon Johnson defensive rebound
3:26
+3
Brandon Johnson makes three point jump shot (Jaden Walker assists)
26-24
3:05
+2
Myles Stute makes two point layup
28-24
2:40
Brandon Johnson misses three point jump shot
2:38
B.J. Mack defensive rebound
2:31
+3
Myles Stute makes three point jump shot (Meechie Johnson assists)
31-24
2:07
Kalib LaCount misses two point jump shot
2:05
Stephen Clark defensive rebound
1:57
+2
B.J. Mack makes two point layup (Stephen Clark assists)
33-24
1:33
+2
RJ Felton makes two point stepback jump shot
33-26
1:15
Jaden Walker personal foul (B.J. Mack draws the foul)
1:02
B.J. Mack misses two point turnaround jump shot
1:00
Brandon Johnson defensive rebound
0:47
Bobby Pettiford Jr. misses two point jump shot
0:45
Ta'Lon Cooper defensive rebound
0:30
B.J. Mack misses three point jump shot
0:28
Myles Stute offensive rebound
0:22
+2
B.J. Mack makes two point layup (Stephen Clark assists)
35-26
0:03
Stephen Clark blocks Bobby Pettiford Jr.'s two point jump shot
0:01
Bobby Pettiford Jr. offensive rebound
0:01
+2
Bobby Pettiford Jr. makes two point putback layup
35-28
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
SCAR
Gamecocks
33
ECU
Pirates
34
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:38
Myles Stute turnover (bad pass) (Brandon Johnson steals)
19:24
+2
Ezra Ausar makes two point layup (Bobby Pettiford Jr. assists)
35-30
19:23
Stephen Clark shooting foul (Ezra Ausar draws the foul)
19:23
+1
Ezra Ausar makes regular free throw 1 of 1
35-31
19:05
+3
Myles Stute makes three point jump shot (Ta'Lon Cooper assists)
38-31
18:48
Brandon Johnson misses two point layup
18:46
Brandon Johnson offensive rebound
18:41
Stephen Clark blocks Brandon Johnson's two point layup
18:39
B.J. Mack defensive rebound
18:32
B.J. Mack misses three point jump shot
18:30
Bobby Pettiford Jr. defensive rebound
18:21
+2
RJ Felton makes two point jump shot
38-33
18:00
Meechie Johnson misses three point jump shot
17:58
Brandon Johnson defensive rebound
17:51
+2
RJ Felton makes two point turnaround jump shot
38-35
17:26
Stephen Clark misses two point layup
17:24
Quentin Diboundje defensive rebound
17:11
Stephen Clark shooting foul (Ezra Ausar draws the foul)
17:11
+1
Ezra Ausar makes regular free throw 1 of 2
38-36
17:11
Ezra Ausar misses regular free throw 2 of 2
17:11
Zachary Davis defensive rebound
16:51
Zachary Davis misses three point jump shot
16:49
Gamecocks offensive rebound
16:47
Myles Stute turnover (Jaden Walker steals)
16:42
+2
Bobby Pettiford Jr. makes two point layup (Jaden Walker assists)
38-38
16:41
Gamecocks 30 second timeout
16:41
TV timeout
16:17
Meechie Johnson misses three point jump shot
16:15
RJ Felton defensive rebound
15:55
+2
Ezra Ausar makes two point driving layup
38-40
15:37
+2
Zachary Davis makes two point floating jump shot (B.J. Mack assists)
40-40
15:16
Ezra Ausar turnover (lost ball)
15:16
TV timeout
14:59
Myles Stute misses three point jump shot
14:57
RJ Felton defensive rebound
14:29
Zachary Davis shooting foul (Ezra Ausar draws the foul)
14:29
+1
Ezra Ausar makes regular free throw 1 of 2
40-41
14:29
Ezra Ausar misses regular free throw 2 of 2
14:29
Collin Murray-Boyles defensive rebound
14:14
Quentin Diboundje shooting foul (Meechie Johnson draws the foul)
14:14
+1
Meechie Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
41-41
14:14
+1
Meechie Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
42-41
13:59
RJ Felton misses three point jump shot
13:57
Myles Stute defensive rebound
13:45
Bobby Pettiford Jr. personal foul (Myles Stute draws the foul)
13:35
Jacobi Wright turnover (bad pass)
13:18
Myles Stute personal foul (RJ Felton draws the foul)
13:04
Collin Murray-Boyles shooting foul (Ezra Ausar draws the foul)
13:04
+1
Ezra Ausar makes regular free throw 1 of 2
42-42
13:04
Ezra Ausar misses regular free throw 2 of 2
13:04
RJ Felton offensive rebound
13:02
Pirates 30 second timeout
13:00
RJ Felton misses two point jump shot
12:58
Zachary Davis defensive rebound
12:42
Myles Stute misses two point layup
12:40
Pirates defensive rebound
12:13
+3
Bobby Pettiford Jr. makes three point jump shot (Quentin Diboundje assists)
42-45
11:43
Myles Stute misses two point layup
11:41
Myles Stute offensive rebound
11:41
Quentin Diboundje shooting foul (Myles Stute draws the foul)
11:41
TV timeout
11:41
+1
Myles Stute makes regular free throw 1 of 2
43-45
11:41
+1
Myles Stute makes regular free throw 2 of 2
44-45
11:30
Bobby Pettiford Jr. misses two point layup
11:28
Ezra Ausar offensive rebound
11:23
Ezra Ausar misses two point layup
11:21
B.J. Mack defensive rebound
11:14
+2
Zachary Davis makes two point cutting dunk (B.J. Mack assists)
46-45
10:45
Bobby Pettiford Jr. misses two point layup
10:43
B.J. Mack defensive rebound
10:34
B.J. Mack misses three point jump shot
10:32
Ezra Ausar defensive rebound
10:11
+2
RJ Felton makes two point layup (Brandon Johnson assists)
46-47
9:49
Ta'Lon Cooper turnover (lost ball) (RJ Felton steals)
9:38
B.J. Mack shooting foul (Brandon Johnson draws the foul)
9:38
Brandon Johnson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
9:38
+1
Brandon Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
46-48
9:17
RJ Felton shooting foul (Meechie Johnson draws the foul)
9:17
+1
Meechie Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
47-48
9:17
+1
Meechie Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
48-48
9:05
RJ Felton turnover (lost ball) (Meechie Johnson steals)
8:55
RJ Felton personal foul (Meechie Johnson draws the foul)
8:46
+2
Meechie Johnson makes two point floating jump shot
50-48
8:25
Bobby Pettiford Jr. misses two point jump shot
8:23
Meechie Johnson defensive rebound
8:16
Meechie Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Quentin Diboundje steals)
8:01
B.J. Mack personal foul (Ezra Ausar draws the foul)
8:01
+1
Ezra Ausar makes regular free throw 1 of 2
50-49
8:01
+1
Ezra Ausar makes regular free throw 2 of 2
50-50
7:42
Brandon Johnson personal foul (Ta'Lon Cooper draws the foul)
7:42
TV timeout
7:40
B.J. Mack misses two point hook shot
7:38
Ezra Ausar defensive rebound
7:10
RJ Felton misses three point jump shot
7:08
Jacobi Wright defensive rebound
6:57
Bobby Pettiford Jr. blocks B.J. Mack's two point layup
6:55
B.J. Mack offensive rebound
6:55
Jaden Walker personal foul (B.J. Mack draws the foul)
6:55
B.J. Mack misses regular free throw 1 of 1
6:55
Brandon Johnson defensive rebound
6:35
Ezra Ausar misses two point jump shot
6:33
Zachary Davis defensive rebound
6:23
Zachary Davis misses two point layup
6:21
RJ Felton defensive rebound
6:11
RJ Felton misses two point layup
6:09
Ta'Lon Cooper defensive rebound
5:58
Jaden Walker personal foul (Myles Stute draws the foul)
5:58
Myles Stute misses regular free throw 1 of 1
5:58
Brandon Johnson defensive rebound
5:34
+3
Brandon Johnson makes three point jump shot (Bobby Pettiford Jr. assists)
50-53
5:17
Brandon Johnson personal foul (B.J. Mack draws the foul)
5:17
+1
B.J. Mack makes regular free throw 1 of 2
51-53
5:17
B.J. Mack misses regular free throw 2 of 2
5:17
RJ Felton defensive rebound
4:57
B.J. Mack personal foul (Brandon Johnson draws the foul)
4:57
+1
Brandon Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
51-54
4:57
Brandon Johnson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:57
Zachary Davis defensive rebound
4:43
+2
Meechie Johnson makes two point driving layup
53-54
4:17
+2
RJ Felton makes two point turnaround hook shot (Jaden Walker assists)
53-56
3:59
+3
Meechie Johnson makes three point jump shot (Jacobi Wright assists)
56-56
3:57
Gamecocks 30 second timeout
3:57
TV timeout
3:41
Stephen Clark personal foul (Ezra Ausar draws the foul)
3:41
+1
Ezra Ausar makes regular free throw 1 of 2
56-57
3:41
+1
Ezra Ausar makes regular free throw 2 of 2
56-58
3:22
Bobby Pettiford Jr. shooting foul (Stephen Clark draws the foul)
3:22
+1
Stephen Clark makes regular free throw 1 of 2
57-58
3:22
Stephen Clark misses regular free throw 2 of 2
3:22
Brandon Johnson defensive rebound
2:59
Ezra Ausar turnover (out of bounds)
2:47
+2
Meechie Johnson makes two point driving layup
59-58
2:31
RJ Felton misses two point jump shot
2:29
Zachary Davis defensive rebound
2:06
Meechie Johnson turnover (bad pass)
1:44
+2
Bobby Pettiford Jr. makes two point pullup jump shot
59-60
1:22
+3
B.J. Mack makes three point jump shot (Ta'Lon Cooper assists)
62-60
1:10
Pirates 60 second timeout
0:54
+2
Bobby Pettiford Jr. makes two point running layup
62-62
0:42
Ezra Ausar blocks B.J. Mack's two point jump shot
0:40
Gamecocks offensive rebound
0:37
Brandon Johnson personal foul (B.J. Mack draws the foul)
0:37
+1
B.J. Mack makes regular free throw 1 of 2
63-62
0:37
B.J. Mack misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:37
Ezra Ausar defensive rebound
0:31
Pirates 30 second timeout
0:20
Ezra Ausar turnover (lost ball)
0:18
RJ Felton personal foul (Ta'Lon Cooper draws the foul)
0:18
Ta'Lon Cooper misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:18
+1
Ta'Lon Cooper makes regular free throw 2 of 2
64-62
0:10
Bobby Pettiford Jr. misses two point jump shot
0:08
Ta'Lon Cooper defensive rebound
0:05
Jaden Walker personal foul (Ta'Lon Cooper draws the foul)
0:05
+1
Ta'Lon Cooper makes regular free throw 1 of 2
65-62
0:05
+1
Ta'Lon Cooper makes regular free throw 2 of 2
66-62
0:04
Bobby Pettiford Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Zachary Davis steals)
0:04
Brandon Johnson personal foul (Zachary Davis draws the foul)
