In a game with numerous back and forths, the Gamecocks were able to muster enough up at the end to fend off the Bulldogs and avoid their bite. Georgia played tough as usual but the Gamecocks surged late in the game again thanks to their star guard Devan Downey, who carried his team to another victory.
Downey finished the game with 33 points and had lots of clutch shots. Key plays came from USC’s F/C Sam Muldrow, who had a career high with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
The Gamecocks shot 51% from the field as a team and 52% from three point land. The Gamecocks were able to hold their own under the basket with only allowing the SEC best rebounding team Georgia to +2 in the rebounding stat.
The ‘Dawgs were lead by Travis Lesile, who had 21 points and some nasty dunks during the game. His above the rim play was complemented by Trey Thompkins with 18 points and Ricky McPhee with 12 points.
This was a tight game the whole way through and at half the Bulldogs were winning by two. But as the game drew to a close, the Gamecocks turned it up a notch and got some key baskets to avoid a letdown after knocking off the number one team earlier this week.
For the Gamecocks, it moves them to 13-8 on the season and 4-3 in SEC Play. USC travels to Tennessee on Feb. 6 to take on the Volunteers in Knoxville. Georgia falls to 9-10 on the year and 1-5 in SEC play with Arkansas coming to Athens on Wednesday.
