ALBANY

Johnson's 15 points lead South Carolina over UAlbany 96-67

AP
Dec 30, 2025

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) Meechie Johnson scored 15 points as South Carolina Gamecocks pulled away after halftime and cruised past UAlbany Great Danes 96-67 on Tuesday night.

The Gamecocks shot 60% from the field and placed five players in double figures while improving to 9-4. South Carolina led 48-33 at the break and steadily widened the gap in the second half, turning defensive pressure into easy scoring opportunities.

UAlbany briefly showed momentum early after halftime when Amir Lindsey and Zacharie Matulu connected on 3-pointers to cut the deficit to 51-39. South Carolina answered with a decisive stretch that put the game out of reach, though. Kobe Knox hit a 3-pointer, and the Gamecocks followed with a 12-2 run that extended the lead to 63-41 with 13:42 remaining.

Hayden Assemian finished with 13 points off the bench, while Mike Sharavjamts added 10 points and seven assists.

South Carolina went 14 of 30 from beyond the arc and made 16 of 17 free throws. The Gamecocks forced 15 turnovers and consistently capitalized in transition during the second half.

Lindsey led UAlbany (4-11) with 18 points but committed four turnovers. Okechukwu Okeke scored 12 points on 6-of-6 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds off the bench. Nas Muhammad added 10 points. The Great Danes shot 44% overall but struggled to slow South Carolina, with the margin growing to as many as 33 points late.

South Carolina opens SEC play at home against No. 11 Vanderbilt on Saturday.

Albany travels to UMass Lowell to begin American East Conference play

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1st Half
UALB
Great Danes
33
SCAR
Gamecocks
48

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Isaac Abidde vs. Mike Sharavjamts (Gamecocks gains possession)
19:48	+3	Elijah Strong makes three point jump shot (Mike Sharavjamts assists)	0-3
19:31	+2	Yaya Keita makes two point layup (Jaden Kempson assists)	2-3
19:13		Meechie Johnson misses three point jump shot
19:11		Yaya Keita defensive rebound
19:02		Zacharie Matulu misses two point layup
19:00		Elijah Strong defensive rebound
18:44	+3	Myles Stute makes three point jump shot (Mike Sharavjamts assists)	2-6
18:12	+2	Yaya Keita makes two point hook shot (Zacharie Matulu assists)	4-6
17:58	+2	Elijah Strong makes two point layup	4-8
17:44		Jaden Kempson misses two point jump shot
17:42		Yaya Keita offensive rebound
17:36		Yaya Keita misses two point layup
17:34		Myles Stute defensive rebound
17:25		Elijah Strong misses two point jump shot
17:23		Isaac Abidde defensive rebound
17:16		Yaya Keita turnover (lost ball) (Mike Sharavjamts steals)
17:07		Isaac Abidde blocks Myles Stute's two point layup
17:05		Myles Stute offensive rebound
17:00		Mike Sharavjamts misses three point jump shot
16:58		Great Danes defensive rebound
16:40	+2	Okechukwu Okeke makes two point dunk (Amir Lindsey assists)	6-8
16:20		Myles Stute misses three point jump shot
16:18		Hayden Assemian offensive rebound
16:05		Isaac Abidde shooting foul (Hayden Assemian draws the foul)
16:05	+1	Hayden Assemian makes regular free throw 1 of 2	6-9
16:05	+1	Hayden Assemian makes regular free throw 2 of 2	6-10
15:56		Nas Muhammad misses three point jump shot
15:54		Meechie Johnson defensive rebound
15:47		Hayden Assemian turnover (bad pass) (Okechukwu Okeke steals)
15:38		Jaden Kempson turnover (bad pass) (Myles Stute steals)
15:21		Nas Muhammad shooting foul
15:21		TV timeout
15:21	+1	Myles Stute makes regular free throw 1 of 2	6-11
15:21	+1	Myles Stute makes regular free throw 2 of 2	6-12
15:12		Jaden Kempson misses two point layup
15:10		Jaden Kempson offensive rebound
14:57		Amir Lindsey turnover (bad pass)
14:34	+3	Meechie Johnson makes three point jump shot (Jordan Butler assists)	6-15
14:22		Isaac Abidde turnover (lost ball) (Jordan Butler steals)
14:08	+2	Hayden Assemian makes two point dunk (Kobe Knox assists)	6-17
14:01		Great Danes 30 second timeout
13:47		Nas Muhammad misses two point jump shot
13:45		Hayden Assemian defensive rebound
13:25	+3	Grant Polk makes three point jump shot (Eli Ellis assists)	6-20
13:17		Jaden Kempson turnover (lost ball) (Hayden Assemian steals)
13:07	+2	Eli Ellis makes two point layup	6-22
12:41		Ma'Kye Taylor offensive foul
12:41		Ma'Kye Taylor turnover (offensive foul)
12:20		Elijah Strong turnover (traveling)
12:20		Elijah Strong technical foul
12:20	+1	Nas Muhammad makes technical free throw 1 of 2	7-22
12:20	+1	Nas Muhammad makes technical free throw 2 of 2	8-22
12:01	+2	Amir Lindsey makes two point jump shot	10-22
11:39		Grant Polk misses three point jump shot
11:37		Nas Muhammad defensive rebound
11:31		Nas Muhammad misses three point jump shot
11:29		Mike Sharavjamts defensive rebound
11:25		Mike Sharavjamts turnover (lost ball) (Okechukwu Okeke steals)
11:19	+2	Zacharie Matulu makes two point layup (Okechukwu Okeke assists)	12-22
11:01		Mike Sharavjamts misses three point jump shot
10:59		Jordan Butler offensive rebound
10:51	+2	Mike Sharavjamts makes two point layup	12-24
10:38		Amir Lindsey misses three point jump shot
10:36		Zacharie Matulu offensive rebound
10:21	+3	Amir Lindsey makes three point jump shot (Nas Muhammad assists)	15-24
9:59		Jump ball. (Gamecocks gains possession)
9:59		TV timeout
9:54		Okechukwu Okeke blocks Grant Polk's two point layup
9:52		Myles Stute offensive rebound
9:43		Myles Stute misses three point jump shot
9:41		Okechukwu Okeke defensive rebound
9:34		Amir Lindsey turnover (lost ball) (Meechie Johnson steals)
9:22		Myles Stute misses two point jump shot
9:20		Isaac Abidde defensive rebound
9:06	+2	Jaden Kempson makes two point layup (Amir Lindsey assists)	17-24
8:56		Eli Ellis misses three point jump shot
8:54		Nas Muhammad defensive rebound
8:39	+2	Okechukwu Okeke makes two point dunk (Jaden Kempson assists)	19-24
8:25		Meechie Johnson misses two point jump shot
8:23		Kobe Knox offensive rebound
8:15		Eli Ellis misses three point jump shot
8:13		Isaac Abidde defensive rebound
8:08		Amir Lindsey misses two point layup
8:06		Kobe Knox defensive rebound
7:58	+3	Myles Stute makes three point jump shot (Meechie Johnson assists)	19-27
7:33		Nas Muhammad misses three point jump shot
7:31		Okechukwu Okeke offensive rebound
7:25	+2	Okechukwu Okeke makes two point dunk	21-27
7:05	+3	Myles Stute makes three point jump shot (Kobe Knox assists)	21-30
6:41	+2	Amir Lindsey makes two point jump shot	23-30
6:20	+3	EJ Walker makes three point jump shot (Eli Ellis assists)	23-33
6:02	+2	Amir Lindsey makes two point layup	25-33
5:46		Myles Stute misses three point jump shot
5:44		Okechukwu Okeke defensive rebound
5:35		Jaden Kempson misses three point jump shot
5:33		Myles Stute defensive rebound
5:17	+2	Meechie Johnson makes two point layup	25-35
5:03		Nas Muhammad offensive foul
5:03		Nas Muhammad turnover (offensive foul)
5:03		TV timeout
4:45		Kobe Knox misses three point jump shot
4:43		Hayden Assemian offensive rebound
4:39	+2	Hayden Assemian makes two point layup	25-37
4:19	+2	Isaac Abidde makes two point layup	27-37
4:01	+2	Hayden Assemian makes two point layup (Mike Sharavjamts assists)	27-39
3:56		Jaden Kempson shooting foul (Hayden Assemian draws the foul)
3:56		TV timeout
3:56	+1	Hayden Assemian makes regular free throw 1 of 1	27-40
3:40		Myles Stute personal foul
3:23		Meechie Johnson shooting foul (Amir Lindsey draws the foul)
3:23	+1	Amir Lindsey makes regular free throw 1 of 2	28-40
3:23	+1	Amir Lindsey makes regular free throw 2 of 2	29-40
3:11		Kobe Knox misses three point jump shot
3:09		Amir Lindsey defensive rebound
3:00		Isaac Abidde turnover (carrying)
2:53	+3	Meechie Johnson makes three point jump shot (Myles Stute assists)	29-43
2:31		Jaden Kempson misses three point jump shot
2:29		Great Danes offensive rebound
2:12	+2	Okechukwu Okeke makes two point layup	31-43
1:54		Kobe Knox turnover (bad pass)
1:51		Jaden Kempson turnover (lost ball) (Kobe Knox steals)
1:41		Isaac Abidde personal foul
1:14		Zacharie Matulu shooting foul (Kobe Knox draws the foul)
1:14	+1	Kobe Knox makes regular free throw 1 of 2	31-44
1:14	+1	Kobe Knox makes regular free throw 2 of 2	31-45
0:55		Jordan Butler personal foul
0:48		Jump ball. (Great Danes gains possession)
0:37		Great Danes 30 second timeout
0:31	+2	Amir Lindsey makes two point jump shot	33-45
0:03	+3	Meechie Johnson makes three point jump shot (Mike Sharavjamts assists)	33-48
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
UALB
Great Danes
34
SCAR
Gamecocks
48

Time		Play	Score
0:00		—
19:46		Mike Sharavjamts misses two point jump shot
19:44		Isaac Abidde defensive rebound
19:23		Zacharie Matulu turnover (bad pass)
19:00		Zacharie Matulu personal foul
18:58		Myles Stute turnover (lost ball) (Zacharie Matulu steals)
18:44		Kobe Knox blocks Jaden Kempson's two point layup
18:42		Great Danes offensive rebound
18:38	+3	Amir Lindsey makes three point jump shot (Zacharie Matulu assists)	36-48
18:20		Isaac Abidde shooting foul (Myles Stute draws the foul)
18:20		Myles Stute misses regular free throw 1 of 2
18:20	+1	Myles Stute makes regular free throw 2 of 2	36-49
18:10		Amir Lindsey turnover (bad pass) (Elijah Strong steals)
17:55		Zacharie Matulu shooting foul (Mike Sharavjamts draws the foul)
17:55	+1	Mike Sharavjamts makes regular free throw 1 of 2	36-50
17:55	+1	Mike Sharavjamts makes regular free throw 2 of 2	36-51
17:44		Jaden Kempson misses two point jump shot
17:42		Zacharie Matulu offensive rebound
17:38	+3	Zacharie Matulu makes three point jump shot (Amir Lindsey assists)	39-51
17:23	+3	Kobe Knox makes three point jump shot (Meechie Johnson assists)	39-54
17:06		Jaden Kempson turnover (bad pass)
16:50		Mike Sharavjamts misses three point jump shot
16:48		Okechukwu Okeke defensive rebound
16:39	+2	Okechukwu Okeke makes two point dunk (Amir Lindsey assists)	41-54
16:23	+2	Elijah Strong makes two point jump shot	41-56
16:02		Zacharie Matulu misses two point jump shot
16:00		Zacharie Matulu offensive rebound
15:53		Amir Lindsey misses three point jump shot
15:51		Gamecocks defensive rebound
15:45		TV timeout
15:27	+2	Eli Ellis makes two point layup	41-58
14:57		Amir Lindsey turnover (lost ball) (Eli Ellis steals)
14:41	+2	Kobe Knox makes two point layup (Eli Ellis assists)	41-60
14:07		Amir Lindsey misses two point jump shot
14:05		Okechukwu Okeke offensive rebound
13:58		Okechukwu Okeke turnover (lost ball)
13:53	+3	Jordan Butler makes three point jump shot (Meechie Johnson assists)	41-63
13:23	+2	Nas Muhammad makes two point jump shot	43-63
13:20		Great Danes 30 second timeout
13:20		TV timeout
13:05	+2	Hayden Assemian makes two point dunk (Meechie Johnson assists)	43-65
12:45		Amir Lindsey misses three point jump shot
12:43		Grant Polk defensive rebound
12:34		Meechie Johnson misses three point jump shot
12:32		Hayden Assemian offensive rebound
12:23	+2	Meechie Johnson makes two point layup	43-67
12:18		Hayden Assemian blocks Amir Lindsey's two point layup
12:16		Great Danes offensive rebound
12:15	+3	Nas Muhammad makes three point jump shot (Jaden Kempson assists)	46-67
11:53	+2	Hayden Assemian makes two point layup (Mike Sharavjamts assists)	46-69
11:35		Nas Muhammad misses two point jump shot
11:33		Grant Polk defensive rebound
11:20	+3	Eli Ellis makes three point jump shot (Mike Sharavjamts assists)	46-72
10:58		Amir Lindsey misses two point jump shot
10:56		Mike Sharavjamts defensive rebound
10:51		Mike Sharavjamts turnover (bad pass) (Nas Muhammad steals)
10:42	+2	Amir Lindsey makes two point layup (Nas Muhammad assists)	48-72
10:18		Mike Sharavjamts turnover (lost ball) (Isaac Abidde steals)
10:04	+2	Isaac Abidde makes two point dunk	50-72
9:57		Eli Ellis misses three point jump shot
9:55		Hayden Assemian offensive rebound
9:49	+3	Jordan Butler makes three point jump shot (Mike Sharavjamts assists)	50-75
9:43	+2	Jaden Kempson makes two point layup	52-75
9:35		Hayden Assemian turnover (lost ball) (Jaden Kempson steals)
9:27		Jaden Kempson misses two point layup
9:25		Jaden Kempson offensive rebound
9:19		Hayden Assemian blocks Nas Muhammad's two point layup
9:17		Grant Polk defensive rebound
9:10	+2	Mike Sharavjamts makes two point layup	52-77
9:03		Gamecocks 30 second timeout
9:03		TV timeout
8:56		Mike Sharavjamts blocks Jaden Kempson's two point layup
8:54		Nordin Kapic defensive rebound
8:36	+2	Nordin Kapic makes two point layup	52-79
8:16		Nas Muhammad misses three point jump shot
8:14		Yaya Keita offensive rebound
8:06	+3	Jaden Kempson makes three point jump shot (Yaya Keita assists)	55-79
7:53	+3	Nordin Kapic makes three point jump shot (Eli Ellis assists)	55-82
7:29		Nordin Kapic personal foul
7:29		TV timeout
7:21		Amir Lindsey misses two point jump shot
7:19		Great Danes offensive rebound
7:13		Amir Lindsey misses three point jump shot
7:11		Zacharie Matulu offensive rebound
7:05		Nas Muhammad misses two point jump shot
7:03		Myles Stute defensive rebound
6:38		Nas Muhammad shooting foul (Mike Sharavjamts draws the foul)
6:38	+1	Mike Sharavjamts makes regular free throw 1 of 2	55-83
6:38	+1	Mike Sharavjamts makes regular free throw 2 of 2	55-84
6:34		Jaden Kempson misses two point layup
6:32		Okechukwu Okeke offensive rebound
6:13		Nordin Kapic shooting foul (Jaden Kempson draws the foul)
6:13	+1	Jaden Kempson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	56-84
6:13	+1	Jaden Kempson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	57-84
5:58	+2	Mike Sharavjamts makes two point jump shot	57-86
5:29		Ma'Kye Taylor misses two point jump shot
5:27		Meechie Johnson defensive rebound
5:05	+2	Grant Polk makes two point jump shot	57-88
5:00	+2	Zacharie Matulu makes two point layup (Jaden Kempson assists)	59-88
4:35		Elijah Strong misses three point jump shot
4:33		Great Danes defensive rebound
4:23		Jaden Kempson misses two point jump shot
4:21		Meechie Johnson defensive rebound
3:57		Grant Polk turnover (bad pass)
3:57		TV timeout
3:52		Amir Lindsey misses two point layup
3:50		Eli Sparkman defensive rebound
3:30		Elijah Strong misses three point jump shot
3:28		Zacharie Matulu defensive rebound
3:18		Miles Rose misses two point jump shot
3:16		Elijah Strong defensive rebound
2:58		Zacharie Matulu shooting foul (Meechie Johnson draws the foul)
2:58	+1	Meechie Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	59-89
2:58	+1	Meechie Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	59-90
2:48	+2	Okechukwu Okeke makes two point dunk (Miles Rose assists)	61-90
2:17	+2	Elijah Strong makes two point layup	61-92
2:03		Tarique Foster misses three point jump shot
2:01		Okechukwu Okeke offensive rebound
1:45	+2	Miles Rose makes two point jump shot	63-92
1:23		Tarique Foster shooting foul (Eli Ellis draws the foul)
1:23	+1	Eli Ellis makes regular free throw 1 of 2	63-93
1:23	+1	Eli Ellis makes regular free throw 2 of 2	63-94
1:09		Elijah Strong personal foul
1:03		Elijah Strong personal foul
1:03	+1	Bautista Giralt makes regular free throw 1 of 2	64-94
1:03		Bautista Giralt misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:03		Ma'Kye Taylor offensive rebound
0:50	+3	Nas Muhammad makes three point jump shot	67-94
0:32	+2	Eli Ellis makes two point layup	67-96
0:20		Miles Rose misses two point jump shot
0:18		EJ Walker defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

EJ Walker defensive rebound