UAB Sets Back South Carolina Once Again

South Carolina made the journey to Birmingham, Alabama, on Wednesday night time to tackle former Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy and the UAB Blazers, and it did not go nicely for the Gamecocks.

How did the sport play out?

An Inconsistent First Half

In the beginning of the sport, no one was hotter than Blazers guard Jordan Walker. On the primary three UAB possessions, Walker hit three straight three-pointers, giving the Blazers a 10-0 benefit within the contest’s first minute and thirty seconds. 

The Gamecocks taking part in in a hostile surroundings, wanted to reply earlier than issues received out of hand, and they’d do exactly that, happening a 9-1 run to chop the Blazers’ lead down to 2 factors.

The Gamecocks narrowed the lead with physicality, outmuscling UAB on the glass for second-chance alternatives. UAB would enhance their lead by means of the environment friendly taking pictures in any respect three ranges from senior ahead KJ Buffen, who completed the primary half with fifteen factors.

The Blazers would proceed to widen the hole on the again of Buffen’s taking pictures. The Gamecocks hit an offensive wall within the last eight minutes, turning over the ball a number of instances and changing into overly reliant on their guards because the entrance court docket struggled to transform on their alternatives, resulting in a fourteen-point halftime deficit.

Protection Could not Maintain Tempo

Within the second half, the Blazers would once more catch the Gamecocks on their heels, beginning the interval on a 10-2 run, extending their result in round 20 factors. From this level on, South Carolina was taking part in catch up, as they had been constantly taking contested pictures whereas the Blazers appeared to have the ability to discover open appears to be like constantly.

Issues went sideways when Meechie Johnson rolled one among his ankles into the interval. With out his explosiveness and skill to create on the ground, South Carolina grew to become much more stagnant on that finish till Johnson returned to the ground. 

On UAB’s finish, the Blazers’ frontcourt fought again on the glass and dominated this facet within the second half. Walker continued to be harmful with the basketball, discovering his teammates whereas he drew the Gamecocks’ consideration.

South Carolina’s reliance on a brief rotation means the Gamecocks cannot afford to fall into a giant gap on the street, or else you get outcomes like this. South Carolina will take East Carolina in Greenville, South Carolina, on Saturday afternoon.

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