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No. 20 South Carolina tops Mississippi 72-59 to end 2-game skid

AP
Feb 24, 2024

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) B.J. Mack scored 17 points and No. 20 South Carolina snapped a two-game losing skid with a 72-59 win over Mississippi on Saturday.

The victory helped the Gamecocks (22-5, 10-4 SEC) hold on to their spot among the top four teams in the conference giving them a shot at earning the double-bye in the conference tournament. They have three games left in the regular season.

South Carolina played solid defense and frustrated Ole Miss' best scorer Matthew Murrell. The Rebels (19-8, 6-8) shot just 33% from the field. Murrell, who averages 17.3 points, got in early foul trouble, picking up two in the game's first four minutes.

The Gamecocks led 36-22 at the half.

“Our effort today was led by what we did defensively especially in the first half," South Carolina coach Lamont Paris said. “As we came out in the second I thought we did a good job of being intentional of trying to outperform the first half versus seeing how fast the clock would run. There’s no doubt our defense led the way. It allows you to have a chance when you play on the road if you defend like that.”

Ole Miss started playing better in the second half until Allen Flanigan was ejected after a flagrant foul with 16:53 left, and seconds later Murrell picked up his third foul. He finished with 10 points.

“It’s hard for us to play without Matt Murrell on the floor. We’re plus-six with Matt on the floor," Ole Miss coach Chris Beard said. “Our team’s not set up for Matt to play half the game. I thought about playing him more, but I thought we were close enough in the game until the end of the first half. That will be something I have to sleep with tonight.”

Flanigan had 11 points when he departed.,"

Jaemyn Brakefield’s 3-pointer with 11:32 left got the Rebels back within 11, but that was as close as the Rebels could get.

BIG PICTURE

Ole Miss won its first 14 games but in conference play has been more reflective of the rebuilding program Beard inherited. The Rebels have lost five of six with resume-building opportunities fast slipping away.

South Carolina can boost it’s NCAA seeding with a strong showing in the final stretch which includes No. 24 Florida and No. 5 Tennessee at home in the last two games.

UP NEXT

South Carolina plays at Texas A&M on Wednesday

Ole Miss is at home against No. 13 Alabama on Wednesday.

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1st Half
SCAR
Gamecocks
36
MISS
Rebels
22

Time		Play	Score
20:00		(Rebels gains possession)
19:42	+2	Moussa Cisse makes two point alley-oop dunk (Jaylen Murray assists)	0-2
19:26		Moussa Cisse blocks Meechie Johnson's two point jump shot
19:21		Jaylen Murray defensive rebound
19:15		Jaemyn Brakefield misses two point jump shot
19:12		Jaemyn Brakefield offensive rebound
19:10		Jaylen Murray misses two point jump shot
19:10		Moussa Cisse offensive rebound
18:49	+2	Moussa Cisse makes two point layup	0-4
18:26		Matthew Murrell shooting foul (Zachary Davis draws the foul)
18:26	+1	Zachary Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 2	1-4
18:26	+1	Zachary Davis makes regular free throw 2 of 2	2-4
18:08		Allen Flanigan misses two point jump shot
18:06		Ta'Lon Cooper defensive rebound
17:48		B.J. Mack misses three point jump shot
17:46		Zachary Davis offensive rebound
17:43	+2	Zachary Davis makes two point layup	4-4
17:09		Allen Flanigan misses two point jump shot
17:07		Zachary Davis defensive rebound
16:48		Jaemyn Brakefield blocks B.J. Mack's two point jump shot
16:46		Collin Murray-Boyles offensive rebound
16:43	+2	Collin Murray-Boyles makes two point layup	6-4
16:20		Collin Murray-Boyles shooting foul (Moussa Cisse draws the foul)
16:20		Moussa Cisse misses regular free throw 1 of 2
16:20		Moussa Cisse misses regular free throw 2 of 2
16:18		Jaemyn Brakefield offensive rebound
16:14		Jaemyn Brakefield turnover (bad pass) (Ta'Lon Cooper steals)
16:06		Matthew Murrell shooting foul (Zachary Davis draws the foul)
16:06	+1	Zachary Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 2	7-4
16:06	+1	Zachary Davis makes regular free throw 2 of 2	8-4
15:53		Jaylen Murray misses two point jump shot
15:52		Gamecocks defensive rebound
15:51		Moussa Cisse personal foul
15:51		TV timeout
15:42		Gamecocks turnover (10-second violation)
15:26		Brandon Murray misses two point jump shot
15:24		Josh Gray defensive rebound
15:14		Allen Flanigan blocks Josh Gray's two point dunk
15:12		TJ Caldwell defensive rebound
15:10		Josh Gray personal foul (TJ Caldwell draws the foul)
14:48		Zachary Davis shooting foul (TJ Caldwell draws the foul)
14:48	+1	TJ Caldwell makes regular free throw 1 of 2	8-5
14:48	+1	TJ Caldwell makes regular free throw 2 of 2	8-6
14:35	+3	Meechie Johnson makes three point jump shot (Ta'Lon Cooper assists)	11-6
14:10		Allen Flanigan misses two point jump shot
14:08		Ta'Lon Cooper defensive rebound
13:53		Jaylen Murray shooting foul (Josh Gray draws the foul)
13:53		Josh Gray misses regular free throw 1 of 2
13:53		Josh Gray misses regular free throw 2 of 2
13:53		Rebels defensive rebound
13:53		Collin Murray-Boyles personal foul (Allen Flanigan draws the foul)
13:33		Jaylen Murray misses two point jump shot
13:31		Meechie Johnson defensive rebound
13:23		B.J. Mack misses three point jump shot
13:21		Rebels defensive rebound
12:57		TJ Caldwell misses two point jump shot
12:55		Ta'Lon Cooper defensive rebound
12:49	+2	Collin Murray-Boyles makes two point layup (Jacobi Wright assists)	13-6
12:29		Brandon Murray misses two point jump shot
12:27		Meechie Johnson defensive rebound
12:21		Meechie Johnson misses two point layup
12:19		Jamarion Sharp defensive rebound
12:15		Collin Murray-Boyles personal foul (TJ Caldwell draws the foul)
12:05		TJ Caldwell misses two point jump shot
12:03		Jamarion Sharp offensive rebound
11:53		Brandon Murray misses three point jump shot
11:51		Ta'Lon Cooper defensive rebound
11:47		Jamarion Sharp blocks Zachary Davis's two point layup
11:45		TJ Caldwell defensive rebound
11:39	+2	Allen Flanigan makes two point layup (TJ Caldwell assists)	13-8
11:24		Meechie Johnson misses three point jump shot
11:22		Brandon Murray defensive rebound
11:18		Jacobi Wright personal foul (Allen Flanigan draws the foul)
11:18		TV timeout
11:11		Jacobi Wright personal foul (TJ Caldwell draws the foul)
11:11	+1	TJ Caldwell makes regular free throw 1 of 2	13-9
11:11	+1	TJ Caldwell makes regular free throw 2 of 2	13-10
10:46		Jacobi Wright misses three point jump shot
10:44		Allen Flanigan defensive rebound
10:39		Moussa Cisse misses two point layup
10:37		B.J. Mack defensive rebound
10:28		TJ Caldwell blocks Jacobi Wright's two point layup
10:26		Allen Flanigan defensive rebound
10:08		Zachary Davis shooting foul (Jaemyn Brakefield draws the foul)
10:08		Jaemyn Brakefield misses regular free throw 1 of 2
10:08	+1	Jaemyn Brakefield makes regular free throw 2 of 2	13-11
9:44	+2	Ta'Lon Cooper makes two point layup	15-11
9:35	+2	Allen Flanigan makes two point jump shot	15-13
9:09	+2	Jacobi Wright makes two point layup (B.J. Mack assists)	17-13
8:56		Allen Flanigan misses two point layup
8:54		B.J. Mack defensive rebound
8:47		Gamecocks 30 second timeout
8:25		Meechie Johnson turnover (bad pass) (Jaylen Murray steals)
8:17	+2	Allen Flanigan makes two point layup	17-15
8:05		Meechie Johnson misses two point layup
8:03		Allen Flanigan defensive rebound
7:58		Jaylen Murray misses three point jump shot
7:56		Meechie Johnson defensive rebound
7:42	+3	B.J. Mack makes three point jump shot (Morris Ugusuk assists)	20-15
7:26	+2	Jaemyn Brakefield makes two point layup	20-17
7:14	+3	Ta'Lon Cooper makes three point jump shot (Zachary Davis assists)	23-17
6:57	+2	Moussa Cisse makes two point dunk (Jaylen Murray assists)	23-19
6:31		Jaemyn Brakefield personal foul (Morris Ugusuk draws the foul)
6:31		TV timeout
6:10		Zachary Davis misses two point jump shot
6:08		Jaylen Murray defensive rebound
5:54		Josh Gray blocks Brandon Murray's two point layup
5:52		Rebels offensive rebound
5:49		Jaemyn Brakefield misses three point jump shot
5:47		Stephen Clark defensive rebound
5:26		Brandon Murray shooting foul (Meechie Johnson draws the foul)
5:26	+1	Meechie Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	24-19
5:26	+1	Meechie Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	25-19
5:14		Allen Flanigan misses two point jump shot
5:12		Stephen Clark defensive rebound
4:46	+2	Josh Gray makes two point layup (Stephen Clark assists)	27-19
4:27		Jaylen Murray misses two point layup
4:25		Gamecocks defensive rebound
4:05		Allen Flanigan blocks Jacobi Wright's two point layup
4:03		Gamecocks offensive rebound
3:58		Meechie Johnson misses two point layup
3:56		Zachary Davis offensive rebound
3:56		TJ Caldwell personal foul (Zachary Davis draws the foul)
3:56		TV timeout
3:56	+1	Zachary Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 2	28-19
3:56		Zachary Davis misses regular free throw 2 of 2
3:56		Brandon Murray defensive rebound
3:34		Jaemyn Brakefield misses two point jump shot
3:32		Josh Gray defensive rebound
3:21	+2	Zachary Davis makes two point layup (Meechie Johnson assists)	30-19
2:58		TJ Caldwell misses three point jump shot
2:56		Jacobi Wright defensive rebound
2:35		Josh Gray turnover (bad pass) (TJ Caldwell steals)
2:26		Jump ball. Jaemyn Brakefield vs. Stephen Clark (Gamecocks gains possession)
2:26		Jaylen Murray turnover (lost ball) (Stephen Clark steals)
2:00		Moussa Cisse blocks B.J. Mack's two point layup
1:58		Gamecocks offensive rebound
1:49		Moussa Cisse blocks Meechie Johnson's two point jump shot
1:49		Matthew Murrell defensive rebound
1:41		Jaylen Murray misses three point jump shot
1:39		Meechie Johnson defensive rebound
1:23		Meechie Johnson misses two point jump shot
1:21		Meechie Johnson offensive rebound
1:15	+3	Jacobi Wright makes three point jump shot (Ta'Lon Cooper assists)	33-19
0:52		Meechie Johnson personal foul (Moussa Cisse draws the foul)
0:52	+1	Moussa Cisse makes regular free throw 1 of 2	33-20
0:52		Allen Flanigan turnover (lane violation)
0:41	+3	Morris Ugusuk makes three point jump shot (Ta'Lon Cooper assists)	36-20
0:31		Rebels 30 second timeout
0:10	+2	Allen Flanigan makes two point jump shot (Moussa Cisse assists)	36-22
0:01		Ta'Lon Cooper misses two point jump shot
0:00		Gamecocks offensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
SCAR
Gamecocks
36
MISS
Rebels
37

Time		Play	Score
19:44	+2	Moussa Cisse makes two point dunk (Jaylen Murray assists)	36-24
19:23		B.J. Mack misses three point jump shot
19:21		Zachary Davis offensive rebound
19:19	+2	Zachary Davis makes two point layup	38-24
18:59		Matthew Murrell misses two point jump shot
18:57		Jaemyn Brakefield offensive rebound
18:51	+2	Allen Flanigan makes two point jump shot	38-26
18:51		Zachary Davis shooting foul (Allen Flanigan draws the foul)
18:51	+1	Allen Flanigan makes regular free throw 1 of 1	38-27
18:34	+2	B.J. Mack makes two point layup	40-27
18:03	+2	Matthew Murrell makes two point jump shot	40-29
17:43		Ta'Lon Cooper misses two point layup
17:41		Collin Murray-Boyles offensive rebound
17:36		Zachary Davis misses three point jump shot
17:34		Jaylen Murray defensive rebound
17:25		Allen Flanigan misses three point jump shot
17:23		Meechie Johnson defensive rebound
17:03	+2	Ta'Lon Cooper makes two point jump shot (B.J. Mack assists)	42-29
16:53		Allen Flanigan flagrant 2 (Zachary Davis draws the foul)
16:53		Allen Flanigan turnover (offensive foul)
16:53		Official timeout
16:53		Zachary Davis misses flagrant free throw 1 of 2
16:53	+1	Zachary Davis makes flagrant free throw 2 of 2	43-29
16:33		Moussa Cisse blocks Collin Murray-Boyles's two point jump shot
16:31		Jaemyn Brakefield defensive rebound
16:21		B.J. Mack shooting foul (Moussa Cisse draws the foul)
16:21		Moussa Cisse misses regular free throw 1 of 2
16:21		Moussa Cisse misses regular free throw 2 of 2
16:21		Gamecocks defensive rebound
16:20		Matthew Murrell personal foul (Collin Murray-Boyles draws the foul)
15:57		Zachary Davis turnover (traveling)
15:57		TV timeout
15:42		Meechie Johnson shooting foul (Matthew Murrell draws the foul)
15:42	+1	Matthew Murrell makes regular free throw 1 of 3	43-30
15:42		Matthew Murrell misses regular free throw 2 of 3
15:42	+1	Matthew Murrell makes regular free throw 3 of 3	43-31
15:14	+2	Ta'Lon Cooper makes two point jump shot	45-31
14:57		Moussa Cisse turnover (lost ball)
14:33		Zachary Davis turnover (lost ball)
14:17		Josh Gray shooting foul (Jaemyn Brakefield draws the foul)
14:17	+1	Jaemyn Brakefield makes regular free throw 1 of 2	45-32
14:17		Jaemyn Brakefield misses regular free throw 2 of 2
14:17		Ta'Lon Cooper defensive rebound
14:06	+3	Jacobi Wright makes three point jump shot (Ta'Lon Cooper assists)	48-32
13:48		Jaemyn Brakefield misses two point jump shot
13:46		Moussa Cisse offensive rebound
13:41	+2	Moussa Cisse makes two point layup	48-34
13:17		Morris Ugusuk misses two point jump shot
13:15		Collin Murray-Boyles offensive rebound
13:14		Brandon Murray personal foul (Collin Murray-Boyles draws the foul)
13:09		Josh Gray turnover (bad pass) (Brandon Murray steals)
13:02		Matthew Murrell turnover (lost ball) (Jacobi Wright steals)
12:50		Morris Ugusuk misses two point layup
12:48		Collin Murray-Boyles offensive rebound
12:44	+2	Collin Murray-Boyles makes two point dunk	50-34
12:23	+2	Moussa Cisse makes two point dunk (Jaemyn Brakefield assists)	50-36
11:49		Meechie Johnson misses two point jump shot
11:47		Jaemyn Brakefield defensive rebound
11:33	+3	Jaemyn Brakefield makes three point jump shot (Jaylen Murray assists)	50-39
11:19		Ta'Lon Cooper offensive foul (Jaemyn Brakefield draws the foul)
11:19		Ta'Lon Cooper turnover (offensive foul)
11:19		TV timeout
11:07		Matthew Murrell turnover (lost ball) (Meechie Johnson steals)
11:07		Matthew Murrell personal foul (Meechie Johnson draws the foul)
10:44		Moussa Cisse blocks B.J. Mack's two point layup
10:42		Jaemyn Brakefield defensive rebound
10:35		Moussa Cisse misses two point dunk
10:33		Moussa Cisse offensive rebound
10:25		Moussa Cisse turnover (bad pass) (Meechie Johnson steals)
10:14		Brandon Murray blocks Meechie Johnson's two point layup
10:12		Jacobi Wright offensive rebound
10:10	+2	Jacobi Wright makes two point layup	52-39
10:05		B.J. Mack shooting foul (Jaemyn Brakefield draws the foul)
10:05		Jaemyn Brakefield misses regular free throw 1 of 2
10:05	+1	Jaemyn Brakefield makes regular free throw 2 of 2	52-40
9:56	+3	B.J. Mack makes three point jump shot (Ta'Lon Cooper assists)	55-40
9:29		TJ Caldwell misses three point jump shot
9:27		Zachary Davis defensive rebound
9:06		B.J. Mack misses three point jump shot
9:04		Zachary Davis offensive rebound
9:04		Jamarion Sharp personal foul (Zachary Davis draws the foul)
8:46		Meechie Johnson turnover (lost ball)
8:32	+3	Brandon Murray makes three point jump shot (Jaylen Murray assists)	55-43
8:11	+2	B.J. Mack makes two point layup	57-43
8:10		Jaemyn Brakefield shooting foul (B.J. Mack draws the foul)
8:10		B.J. Mack misses regular free throw 1 of 1
8:10		Brandon Murray defensive rebound
8:00		Jaylen Murray misses two point jump shot
7:58		Collin Murray-Boyles defensive rebound
7:44		Brandon Murray personal foul (Collin Murray-Boyles draws the foul)
7:44		TV timeout
7:44	+1	Collin Murray-Boyles makes regular free throw 1 of 2	58-43
7:44	+1	Collin Murray-Boyles makes regular free throw 2 of 2	59-43
7:21	+2	Brandon Murray makes two point jump shot (Jaylen Murray assists)	59-45
6:49		Ta'Lon Cooper misses two point jump shot
6:47		Brandon Murray defensive rebound
6:41		Brandon Murray misses two point jump shot
6:39		Josh Gray defensive rebound
6:21	+2	Collin Murray-Boyles makes two point jump shot (Jacobi Wright assists)	61-45
6:07		Jacobi Wright shooting foul (Jaylen Murray draws the foul)
6:07	+1	Jaylen Murray makes regular free throw 1 of 2	61-46
6:07		Jaylen Murray misses regular free throw 2 of 2
6:07		Zachary Davis defensive rebound
5:52		Jacobi Wright turnover (bad pass) (Jaylen Murray steals)
5:48		Jaylen Murray turnover (lost ball)
5:47		Rebels 30 second timeout
5:47		TV timeout
5:27	+2	B.J. Mack makes two point layup (Meechie Johnson assists)	63-46
5:13		Meechie Johnson shooting foul (Matthew Murrell draws the foul)
5:13	+1	Matthew Murrell makes regular free throw 1 of 3	63-47
5:13	+1	Matthew Murrell makes regular free throw 2 of 3	63-48
5:13	+1	Matthew Murrell makes regular free throw 3 of 3	63-49
5:08	+2	Collin Murray-Boyles makes two point dunk (Ta'Lon Cooper assists)	65-49
4:55		Matthew Murrell misses three point jump shot
4:53		Ta'Lon Cooper defensive rebound
4:38		Ta'Lon Cooper misses two point jump shot
4:36		Zachary Davis offensive rebound
4:28		Zachary Davis misses two point layup
4:28		Jaemyn Brakefield defensive rebound
4:28		B.J. Mack shooting foul (Jaemyn Brakefield draws the foul)
4:28	+1	Jaemyn Brakefield makes regular free throw 1 of 2	65-50
4:28	+1	Jaemyn Brakefield makes regular free throw 2 of 2	65-51
4:03	+3	B.J. Mack makes three point jump shot (Collin Murray-Boyles assists)	68-51
3:59		Gamecocks 30 second timeout
3:59		TV timeout
3:45		Matthew Murrell misses three point jump shot
3:41		Rebels offensive rebound
3:29		Jaemyn Brakefield misses two point jump shot
3:27		Zachary Davis defensive rebound
3:02		Ta'Lon Cooper turnover (bad pass) (Jaemyn Brakefield steals)
2:56	+2	Jaemyn Brakefield makes two point layup	68-53
2:24		Zachary Davis misses three point jump shot
2:22		Gamecocks offensive rebound
2:22		Moussa Cisse personal foul (B.J. Mack draws the foul)
2:22	+1	B.J. Mack makes regular free throw 1 of 2	69-53
2:22	+1	B.J. Mack makes regular free throw 2 of 2	70-53
2:07		Ta'Lon Cooper shooting foul (Moussa Cisse draws the foul)
2:07		Moussa Cisse misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:07		Moussa Cisse misses regular free throw 2 of 2
2:04		Ta'Lon Cooper defensive rebound
2:04		Jump ball. Ta'Lon Cooper vs. Moussa Cisse (Gamecocks gains possession)
1:46		Meechie Johnson turnover (bad pass) (Moussa Cisse steals)
1:37	+3	Matthew Murrell makes three point jump shot (Austin Nunez assists)	70-56
1:37		Rebels 30 second timeout
1:36		Jaylen Murray personal foul (Ta'Lon Cooper draws the foul)
1:36		Ta'Lon Cooper misses regular free throw 1 of 1
1:36		Moussa Cisse defensive rebound
1:27		Matthew Murrell misses three point jump shot
1:25		Rebels offensive rebound
1:24		Jacobi Wright personal foul (Jaylen Murray draws the foul)
1:24	+1	Jaylen Murray makes regular free throw 1 of 2	70-57
1:24	+1	Jaylen Murray makes regular free throw 2 of 2	70-58
1:14		Gamecocks 30 second timeout
1:04		Meechie Johnson misses three point jump shot
1:02		Moussa Cisse defensive rebound
0:56		Jaylen Murray misses three point jump shot
0:54		Meechie Johnson defensive rebound
0:45	+2	Zachary Davis makes two point dunk (Jacobi Wright assists)	72-58
0:31		Matthew Murrell misses three point jump shot
0:29		Moussa Cisse offensive rebound
0:21		Matthew Murrell misses three point jump shot
0:19		Austin Nunez offensive rebound
0:18		Zachary Davis shooting foul (Austin Nunez draws the foul)
0:18		Austin Nunez misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:18	+1	Austin Nunez makes regular free throw 2 of 2	72-59
0:00		End of period

+ 1

Austin Nunez makes regular free throw 2 of 2