South Carolina used some hot outside shooting, hitting 8-of-15 three-point attempts in the first half, to propel the Gamecocks to an 83-66 win over East Tennessee State in non-conference basketball action Monday night in Columbia, S.C.
ETSU dropped its third straight to fall to 1-3 while South Carolina improved to 2-2 with the win in its home opener in front of 5,549 fans.
With the game tied at 6-6, South Carolina’s Jamel Bradley hit the first long-range shot of the night for the Gamecocks to give them a lead that the Bucs would not challenge the rest of the evening. ETSU got back to within three at 11-8 on a pair of Jerald Fields free throws, but it would be as close as the Bucs would come.
South Carolina, which shot over 62 percent from the floor in the first half, proceeded to hit seven of its next 12 three-point shots, as the Gamecocks outscored the Bucs 38-17 the rest of the way until the half, taking a commanding 49-25 lead into the locker room.
ETSU would cut the lead down to 17 points twice in the second half, but South Carolina’s outside shooting continued to be strong in the second half as well, thwarting any comeback attempt by the Bucs.
ETSU shot over 50 percent in the second half, but South Carolina’s lead was too much to overcome.
Turnovers also plagued the Bucs, as the team committed 18 during the contest.
Fields would up leading ETSU with 12 points and shared team rebounding honors with freshman Tiras Wade, with each pulling down five boards.
Senior Dimeco Childress and sophomore Zakee Wadood each added 11 points, while Wade chipped in 10 points to the Buc’s cause.
Childress also led all players with three steals.
South Carolina placed three players in double figures, led by Aaron Lucas who hit 5-of-8 from the field, including 3-of-4 treys, to finish with 14 points to go along with eight assists.
The Bucs next play at Coastal Carolina in Conway, S.C., on Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. and their next home game is Dec. 8 against Radford at 4 p.m.

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