Johnson's 6 3s, 25 points help South Carolina beat WKU 65-58
AP
Dec 22, 2022
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) Meechie Johnson hit six 3-pointers and finished with 25 points - both career bests - and freshman Gregory Jackson II added 12 points and a season-high 16 rebounds to help South Carolina Gamecocks beat Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 65-58 Thursday night.
Hayden Brown scored 11 points but shot just 3 of 11 from the field and 0 for 6 from 3-point range for South Carolina (6-6). The Gamecocks shot 34% (22 of 64) from the field and made just 12 of 25 (48%) from the free-throw line but hit nine 3-pointers and outrebounded Western Kentucky 51-31.
Emmanuel Akot hit a 3-pointer that capped an 9-0 run and gave Western Kentucky a 49-44 lead midway through the second half but the Hilltoppers went without a made field goal for the next 7-plus minutes. Jacobi Wright answered with a 3 and Johnson hit another in a 15-2 spurt that culminated when Johnson converted a traditional three-point play that gave South Carolina a 10-point lead with 2:15 remaining.
Dayvion McKnight scored 28 points with eight rebounds and three steals for Western Kentucky (8-3). The 6-foot-1 junior was 10-of-16 shooting - 0 for 5 from 3-point range - and is averaging 28.3 points on 61.8% shooting over the last three games.
The Hilltoppers shot 36% (20 of 55), made just 3 of 22 (14%) behind the arc and hit 15 of 25 from the foul line.
Jamarion Sharp scored six points before Luke Frampton hit a 3-pointer to cap Western Kentucky's 11-2 opening run as the Gamecocks made just one of their first 10 field-goal attempts. Johnson hit two 3-pointers and Chico Carter Jr. added another 3 as South Carolina responded with a 12-2 spurt to take a 14-13 lead with 12 minutes left in the first half.
The Hilltoppers, who had their five-game win streak snapped with a 93-84 loss at Louisville on Dec. 14, have lost back-to-back games for the first time this season.
UP NEXT
Western Kentucky opens its Conference USA slate at home against Rice on Dec. 29
South Carolina is off until Eastern Michigan visits on Dec. 30
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1st Half
WKU
Hilltoppers
32
SCAR
Gamecocks
34
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:55
(Hilltoppers gains possession)
19:55
+2
Jamarion Sharp makes two point driving dunk (Jairus Hamilton assists)
2-0
19:34
Chico Carter Jr. misses three point pullup jump shot
19:32
Hilltoppers defensive rebound
19:02
Emmanuel Akot misses two point driving floating jump shot
19:00
Emmanuel Akot offensive rebound
18:50
Emmanuel Akot misses two point driving layup
18:48
Gregory Jackson II defensive rebound
18:48
Hayden Brown turnover
18:48
Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk personal foul
18:31
Luke Frampton misses two point pullup jump shot
18:29
Gregory Jackson II defensive rebound
18:20
Gregory Jackson II misses two point floating jump shot
18:18
Luke Frampton defensive rebound
18:15
Chico Carter Jr. personal foul (Jamarion Sharp draws the foul)
18:15
+1
Jamarion Sharp makes regular free throw 1 of 2
3-0
18:15
+1
Jamarion Sharp makes regular free throw 2 of 2
4-0
17:59
Gregory Jackson II turnover (bad pass)
17:44
+2
Emmanuel Akot makes two point pullup jump shot
6-0
17:21
Hayden Brown misses three point pullup jump shot
17:19
Dayvion McKnight defensive rebound
17:08
Jamarion Sharp misses two point driving layup
17:06
Jamarion Sharp offensive rebound
16:53
+2
Jamarion Sharp makes two point putback layup
8-0
16:43
Jamarion Sharp blocks Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk's two point driving layup
16:41
Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk offensive rebound
16:37
Meechie Johnson misses three point pullup jump shot
16:35
Hayden Brown offensive rebound
16:37
+2
Hayden Brown makes two point putback layup
8-2
16:37
Jairus Hamilton shooting foul (Hayden Brown draws the foul)
16:37
Hayden Brown misses regular free throw 1 of 1
16:28
+3
Luke Frampton makes three point pullup jump shot (Dayvion McKnight assists)
11-2
16:15
Hayden Brown turnover (bad pass) (Dayvion McKnight steals)
16:00
Jairus Hamilton misses two point floating jump shot
15:58
Gregory Jackson II defensive rebound
15:51
Gregory Jackson II misses two point pullup jump shot
15:49
Hayden Brown offensive rebound
15:39
Jamarion Sharp blocks Hayden Brown's two point putback layup
15:37
Jamarion Sharp defensive rebound
15:39
Jairus Hamilton turnover
15:39
TV timeout
15:23
Meechie Johnson misses three point pullup jump shot
15:21
Jairus Hamilton defensive rebound
15:04
Emmanuel Akot misses two point pullup jump shot
15:02
Josh Gray defensive rebound
14:47
Jacobi Wright misses two point stepback jump shot
14:45
Josh Gray offensive rebound
14:29
+3
Meechie Johnson makes three point pullup jump shot (Josh Gray assists)
11-5
14:24
Josh Gray personal foul (Jamarion Sharp draws the foul)
14:24
Jamarion Sharp misses regular free throw 1 of 2
14:24
Jamarion Sharp misses regular free throw 2 of 2
14:24
Meechie Johnson defensive rebound
14:17
Luke Frampton shooting foul (Gregory Jackson II draws the foul)
14:17
+1
Gregory Jackson II makes regular free throw 1 of 2
11-6
14:17
+1
Gregory Jackson II makes regular free throw 2 of 2
11-7
13:55
Jairus Hamilton misses three point pullup jump shot
13:53
Gregory Jackson II defensive rebound
13:53
Jairus Hamilton personal foul (Hayden Brown draws the foul)
13:53
Hayden Brown misses regular free throw 1 of 2
13:58
+1
Hayden Brown makes regular free throw 2 of 2
11-8
13:43
Khristian Lander misses three point pullup jump shot
13:41
Meechie Johnson defensive rebound
13:25
+3
Meechie Johnson makes three point pullup jump shot (Chico Carter Jr. assists)
11-11
13:07
+2
Dayvion McKnight makes two point driving layup
13-11
12:44
Tyrone Marshall blocks Hayden Brown's three point pullup jump shot
12:42
Tyrone Marshall defensive rebound
12:24
Emmanuel Akot misses three point pullup jump shot
12:22
Gregory Jackson II defensive rebound
12:10
+3
Chico Carter Jr. makes three point pullup jump shot (Jacobi Wright assists)
13-14
11:51
Hayden Brown personal foul (Jamarion Sharp draws the foul)
11:51
TV timeout
11:51
Jamarion Sharp misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:51
Jamarion Sharp misses regular free throw 2 of 2
11:51
Gregory Jackson II defensive rebound
11:20
Gamecocks turnover (shot clock violation)
11:05
Jordan Rawls turnover (bad pass)
10:44
Gregory Jackson II misses three point stepback jump shot
10:42
Jordan Rawls defensive rebound
10:36
Chico Carter Jr. shooting foul (Jordan Rawls draws the foul)
10:36
+1
Jordan Rawls makes regular free throw 1 of 2
14-14
10:36
+1
Jordan Rawls makes regular free throw 2 of 2
15-14
10:18
Meechie Johnson misses three point pullup jump shot
10:16
Hilltoppers defensive rebound
9:56
Jordan Rawls misses two point floating jump shot
9:54
Daniel Hankins-Sanford defensive rebound
9:44
Jacobi Wright misses three point pullup jump shot
9:42
Tyrone Marshall defensive rebound
9:32
Khristian Lander misses three point pullup jump shot
9:30
Gregory Jackson II defensive rebound
9:24
Gregory Jackson II misses two point pullup jump shot
9:24
Gamecocks offensive rebound
9:08
Hayden Brown misses three point pullup jump shot
9:06
Luke Frampton defensive rebound
8:53
+2
Dayvion McKnight makes two point floating jump shot
17-14
8:35
+2
Hayden Brown makes two point driving dunk (Meechie Johnson assists)
17-16
8:02
Dayvion McKnight misses three point pullup jump shot
8:00
Jacobi Wright defensive rebound
7:51
+3
Meechie Johnson makes three point stepback jump shot
17-19
7:31
+2
Dayvion McKnight makes two point driving layup
19-19
6:55
+3
Meechie Johnson makes three point pullup jump shot
19-22
6:36
Meechie Johnson personal foul
6:36
TV timeout
6:36
Ford Cooper Jr. personal foul (Jordan Rawls draws the foul)
6:36
+1
Jordan Rawls makes regular free throw 1 of 2
20-22
6:36
Jordan Rawls misses regular free throw 2 of 2
6:36
Daniel Hankins-Sanford defensive rebound
6:23
Fallou Diagne personal foul (Gamecocks draws the foul)
6:06
Ford Cooper Jr. misses three point pullup jump shot
6:04
Zachary Davis offensive rebound
5:54
Zachary Davis misses two point putback layup
5:52
Daniel Hankins-Sanford offensive rebound
5:42
Daniel Hankins-Sanford misses two point putback layup
5:40
Dayvion McKnight defensive rebound
5:31
+2
Jordan Rawls makes two point driving layup
22-22
5:21
Hayden Brown misses three point pullup jump shot
5:19
Dayvion McKnight defensive rebound
4:53
Jordan Rawls turnover (lost ball) (Hayden Brown steals)
4:43
Luke Frampton blocks Hayden Brown's two point driving layup
4:41
Hayden Brown offensive rebound
4:27
Hayden Brown misses two point driving layup
4:25
Daniel Hankins-Sanford offensive rebound
4:22
+2
Daniel Hankins-Sanford makes two point putback layup
22-24
4:22
Emmanuel Akot turnover (lost ball) (Zachary Davis steals)
4:22
Zachary Davis offensive foul (Hilltoppers draws the foul)
4:22
Zachary Davis turnover (offensive foul)
4:13
+2
Dayvion McKnight makes two point floating jump shot
24-24
3:51
+3
Meechie Johnson makes three point pullup jump shot (Jacobi Wright assists)
24-27
3:27
Dayvion McKnight misses three point pullup jump shot
3:25
Emmanuel Akot offensive rebound
3:16
Dayvion McKnight misses three point pullup jump shot
3:14
Gregory Jackson II defensive rebound
3:05
Gregory Jackson II misses three point pullup jump shot
3:03
Meechie Johnson offensive rebound
2:44
Jacobi Wright misses three point pullup jump shot
2:42
Dayvion McKnight defensive rebound
2:35
Dayvion McKnight turnover (lost ball)
2:35
TV timeout
2:14
+3
Gregory Jackson II makes three point pullup jump shot (Chico Carter Jr. assists)
24-30
2:01
Hayden Brown personal foul (Dayvion McKnight draws the foul)
2:03
+1
Dayvion McKnight makes regular free throw 1 of 2
25-30
2:03
+1
Dayvion McKnight makes regular free throw 2 of 2
26-30
1:56
Daniel Hankins-Sanford turnover (bad pass) (Tyrone Marshall steals)
1:38
+3
Khristian Lander makes three point pullup jump shot
29-30
1:19
+2
Gregory Jackson II makes two point stepback jump shot
29-32
0:58
Khristian Lander misses three point pullup jump shot
0:56
Daniel Hankins-Sanford defensive rebound
0:43
Daniel Hankins-Sanford misses two point pullup jump shot
0:41
Hayden Brown offensive rebound
0:39
Hayden Brown turnover (lost ball) (Khristian Lander steals)
0:39
Hayden Brown personal foul (Dayvion McKnight draws the foul)
0:39
+1
Dayvion McKnight makes regular free throw 1 of 2
30-32
0:39
Dayvion McKnight misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:39
Gregory Jackson II defensive rebound
0:39
Gamecocks 30 second timeout
0:11
+2
Gregory Jackson II makes two point alley-oop dunk (Chico Carter Jr. assists)
30-34
0:00
+2
Dayvion McKnight makes two point driving layup
32-34
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
WKU
Hilltoppers
26
SCAR
Gamecocks
31
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:52
Hayden Brown misses two point driving layup
19:50
Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk offensive rebound
19:38
+2
Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk makes two point putback layup
32-36
19:19
Luke Frampton misses two point pullup jump shot
19:17
Jamarion Sharp offensive rebound
19:09
+2
Jairus Hamilton makes two point driving floating bank jump shot
34-36
18:51
+2
Meechie Johnson makes two point floating jump shot
34-38
18:29
Dayvion McKnight turnover
18:02
+2
Gregory Jackson II makes two point turnaround jump shot
34-40
17:45
+2
Dayvion McKnight makes two point driving layup
36-40
17:31
Hayden Brown misses three point pullup jump shot
17:21
Gregory Jackson II personal foul
17:13
Chico Carter Jr. personal foul
17:13
+2
Dayvion McKnight makes two point pullup jump shot
38-40
17:00
+2
Chico Carter Jr. makes two point floating jump shot
38-42
16:45
Emmanuel Akot misses three point pullup jump shot
16:43
Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk defensive rebound
16:29
Gregory Jackson II turnover (bad pass) (Dayvion McKnight steals)
16:29
+2
Dayvion McKnight makes two point driving layup
40-42
16:10
Dayvion McKnight shooting foul (Meechie Johnson draws the foul)
16:10
Meechie Johnson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
16:10
Meechie Johnson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
16:10
Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk offensive rebound
16:03
Jacobi Wright misses three point pullup jump shot
16:01
Gregory Jackson II offensive rebound
15:51
Gregory Jackson II misses two point stepback bank jump shot
15:49
Dayvion McKnight defensive rebound
15:36
Luke Frampton misses three point pullup jump shot
15:34
Jacobi Wright defensive rebound
15:19
TV timeout
15:18
Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk offensive foul (Hilltoppers draws the foul)
15:18
Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk turnover (offensive foul)
15:04
Emmanuel Akot misses three point pullup jump shot
15:02
Jacobi Wright defensive rebound
14:36
Jamarion Sharp shooting foul (Meechie Johnson draws the foul)
14:36
+1
Meechie Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2
40-43
14:36
+1
Meechie Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2
40-44
14:15
Gregory Jackson II blocks Emmanuel Akot's two point driving layup
14:13
Jacobi Wright defensive rebound
14:03
Meechie Johnson misses three point pullup jump shot
14:01
Luke Frampton defensive rebound
14:03
Meechie Johnson personal foul
14:02
Luke Frampton misses two point pullup jump shot
14:00
Dayvion McKnight offensive rebound
13:48
+2
Dayvion McKnight makes two point putback layup
42-44
13:39
Daniel Hankins-Sanford misses two point floating jump shot
13:37
Jairus Hamilton defensive rebound
13:23
Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk personal foul
13:18
Gregory Jackson II blocks Jairus Hamilton's two point driving layup
13:16
Gregory Jackson II defensive rebound
13:01
Jamarion Sharp blocks Gregory Jackson II's two point driving layup
12:59
Jamarion Sharp defensive rebound
12:49
+2
Jamarion Sharp makes two point driving dunk (Emmanuel Akot assists)
44-44
12:43
Jamarion Sharp shooting foul (Daniel Hankins-Sanford draws the foul)
12:43
Daniel Hankins-Sanford misses regular free throw 1 of 2
12:43
Daniel Hankins-Sanford misses regular free throw 2 of 2
12:43
Khristian Lander defensive rebound
12:26
Khristian Lander misses two point driving layup
12:24
Daniel Hankins-Sanford defensive rebound
12:05
Gregory Jackson II misses two point pullup jump shot
12:03
Khristian Lander defensive rebound
11:44
+2
Jairus Hamilton makes two point driving layup
46-44
11:44
Daniel Hankins-Sanford shooting foul (Jairus Hamilton draws the foul)
