USC MEN's BASKETBALL

Top-ranked Vols drub Gamecocks 92-70

Posted

COLUMBIA - Tennessee began its second week as the No. 1 team in college basketball on Tuesday by picking up its 15th straight victory.

After watching South Carolina pull within two points with 13 minutes left in the contest, the Volunteers took control the rest of the way and went on to a 92-70 victory in front of a sellout crowd at Colonial Life Arena.

Tennessee improved to 19-1 on the season and 7-0 in the Southeastern Conference. The Gamecocks, who suffered their third loss in the last four contests, fell to 10-10 overall and 5-2 in the SEC.

Tennessee led 47-38 at halftime, but USC made a run at the start of the second half. Carolina pulled within 60-58 with 13:07 remaining in the game when Tre Campbell hit three free throws.

The Vols' Jordan Bone responded by hitting two free throws and a 3-point basket to push the lead out to 65-58. Felipe Haase and Hassani Gravett hit consecutive baskets to pull South Carolina within four, 65-61.

Tennessee's Lamonte Turner and Admiral Schofield drilled consecutive treys to push the lead to 71-61 with 10:15 to go. The Gamecocks got a jumper from Haase to make it 71-63, but the Volunteers went on a 9-2 run to push the lead to 80-65 with 7:06 left.

USC never got closer than 14 the rest of the way.

Tennessee, which shot 56 percent from the floor in the second half, had four players score in double figures. Schofield led the way with 24 points, while Grant Williams had 23, Bone 19 and Turner 13.

Chris Silva led South Carolina with 28, including 21 in the first half. Campbell finished with 14 and AJ Lawson had nine.

Tennessee led 47-38 at halftime. Had it not been for Silva though, South Carolina could have found itself facing a much greater deficit.

Silva had 21 points in the opening 20 minutes. He hit on 6 of 10 field goal attempts, including two of three from 3-point range. Silva was also getting to the free throw line, connecting on eight of nine attempts.