Meechie Johnson Hits 1,000 Career Points as South Carolina Powers Past The Citadel
COLUMBIA, S.C. - It wasn’t pretty early, but South Carolina found its rhythm late - and Meechie Johnson made sure it was a night to remember.
The redshirt senior guard from Cleveland became the 48th player in Gamecock history to reach the 1,000-point milestone, capping off a 19-point performance that helped South Carolina pull away from The Citadel in a 71-55 win Saturday night at Colonial Life Arena.
Johnson scored 14 of his 19 in the second half, including a key stretch where he helped flip the momentum for good. With the Gamecocks stuck in a brutal shooting slump from deep - they missed their first 19 attempts from beyond the arc - it was Johnson and Grant Polk who finally cracked the lid. Their back-to-back threes gave South Carolina a 55-47 lead, and they never looked back.
A few possessions later, Johnson added a three-point play, followed by a bucket from Hayden Assemian, stretching the lead to double digits with just over four minutes remaining. From there, Carolina closed strong, finishing the game on a 16-8 run.
Grinding Through the Cold Start
This one was a tale of two halves. The Gamecocks couldn’t buy a bucket from deep early on - 0-for-19 to start from three - but they stayed composed and leaned into what was working: attacking the paint and getting to the line. South Carolina shot a blistering 61.1% (22-of-36) from two-point range and made the most of their trips to the charity stripe, hitting 18-of-21 (85.7%).
That efficiency inside helped offset the 3-for-23 night from three-point land. And when they finally did connect from deep, it came at just the right time.
Defensive Identity Shows Up Again
Defense continues to be a calling card for Lamont Paris’ squad. For the second straight game, South Carolina held its opponent under 40% shooting.
The Citadel managed just 36.8% from the floor (21-of-57) and hit only 2-of-19 from deep (11%). That kind of defensive consistency is becoming a trend - and a winning one.
Under Paris, the Gamecocks are now 28-3 when holding opponents below 40% from the field, and 45-9 when holding them under 70 points.
The Bulldogs, still searching for their first win over a Division I opponent this season, struggled to generate offense outside of Carter Kingsbury, who led all scorers with 18 points on 8-of-14 shooting.
Balanced Effort Beyond Johnson
While Johnson stole the spotlight with his milestone moment, the supporting cast delivered in key spots.
Senior transfer Mike Sharavjamts chipped in 14 points and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds. He played with poise and physicality, especially in the second half when the Gamecocks needed energy and control on the glass.
Redshirt senior Kobe Knox also made his presence felt, scoring 12 points and going a perfect 6-for-6 at the line. Knox, a Tampa native, continues to be South Carolina’s most reliable free throw shooter this season, now hitting 88.2% from the stripe (30-of-34).
A Historic Rivalry, Another Win
This was the 100th all-time meeting between South Carolina and The Citadel - a series that dates back generations - and the Gamecocks made it 14 straight wins over their in-state foe. It also marked their first win over the Bulldogs since 2008, though the two programs haven’t faced off much in recent years.
What’s Next: Palmetto Series Showdown
Now things get interesting. South Carolina (7-3) heads to Clemson for its only true road game of the non-conference schedule - and it’s a big one. The annual Palmetto Series matchup is always charged, and this year’s Tigers squad (8-3) will be looking to defend home court at Littlejohn Coliseum.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2, with Roy Philpott and Mark Wise on the call.
For South Carolina, it’s a chance to test their mettle in a hostile environment and see how far their defense - and their late-game composure - can take them. And for Meechie Johnson, it’s another opportunity to keep adding to a legacy that now officially includes 1,000 career points in Garnet & Black.