GREENVILLE, SC. – The South Carolina Stingrays (8-6-2-0) delivered a statement 8-5 win over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (15-3-0-0) on Saturday night. The Stingrays were down 5-1 in the second period but stormed back with seven unanswered goals to win the game. Josh Wilkins scored a hat trick, Ryan Leibold scored twice, and Garin Bjorklund stopped 31 of 36 shots in the victory.

Greenville held a 3-1 lead after the first period. Anthony Beauchamp opened the scoring before Wilkins tied the game with a power play goal. Nikita Pavlychev tallied two power-play goals to give Greenville a two-goal lead.

Greenville extended their lead to 5-1 with goals by JD Greenway and Brannon McManus. Both goals came off shots from the high slot.

Wilkins started South Carolina’s comeback with his second power-play goal of the night. He one-timed a cross-ice feed from Connor Moore past Greenville goaltender Ryan Bednard to cut the deficit to 3.

Austin Magera pulled the Stingrays within two when he knocked in his seventh goal of the season. Magera followed up a Benton Maass shot and buried the rebound past Bednard to make it 5-3.

Leibold made it 5-4 when he streaked up the right side and fired a shot over the glove of Bednard.

Tyson Empey tied the game at 5 when he redirected a shot from the left point by Jon McDonald. Tonight was the second consecutive game that Empey scored a goal with less than two seconds remaining in the second period.

Wilkins gave the Stingrays their first lead of the night with a highlight-reel breakaway goal. Wilkins faked a shot, deeked to the backhand, and roofed a shot past Bednard to complete his hat trick and put the Stingrays up 6-5.

Leibold extended the Stingray lead to 7-5 with a wrist shot to the short side shelf. Kevin O’Neil iced the game with an empty net goal to seal an 8-5 win for South Carolina.

The Stingrays are back in action on Sunday afternoon for their annual Teddy Bear toss game. They will take on the Trois-Rivières Lions at 3:05 pm.

2023-24 Single Game tickets are on sale! Tickets to all 35 remaining regular season home games are available at the following link.

Save money with group tickets! For more information or to purchase, contact the Stingrays by phone at 843-744-2248.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.

ORANGEBURG, S.C. (WIS) – One person was injured following a shooting at a South Carolina State University (SC State) campus residential complex Friday evening.

SC State police said the shooting happened between two nonstudents who were guests of a student who lived in the complex. Officers added one person was wounded with a nonlife-threatening injury.

The incident was reported at 7:24 p.m. on Dec. 1 and campus police responded immediately, secured the area, and determined the alleged shooter had left campus.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is assisting SC State police with the investigation. University administrators advised students to use extreme caution about who they invite to campus and to remember the consequences of not following university rules.

SC State President Alexander Conyers released the following statement regarding the incident:

Our priority at South Carolina State University is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students and employees. I cannot emphasize enough that the misguided actions of one person can put others unnecessarily at risk. One bad decision can disrupt the safety and security of everyone who lives, studies and works at SC State.

Students always must be vigilant about safety – both in their own behavior and those with whom they associate. Campus visitation is a privilege that must be exercised with the welfare of everyone in mind. You should never bring or invite untrustworthy individuals onto the campus with particular attention to avoiding illegal activity.

As a reminder, no weapons are allowed on campus, and violations result in both criminal charges and campus judicial proceedings that can lead to suspension or expulsion. The same applies to illegal drug trafficking.

South Carolina State University will continue to hold students accountable for any policy violations and illegal activity conducted by them or their guests.

Our Campus Police Department works hard to maintain security on the SC State campus, but they require the assistance of students and employees.

We ask you to join us in maintaining a safe environment by always remaining alert and aware of your surroundings. I remind you that the best defense against trouble is that if you see something, say something.

In October 2023, the university was sent into lockdown after a reported sexual assault, and an SC State football player was charged with having a weapon on school property.

This story is developing, please check later for updated coverage.

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