South Carolina Grinds Out Win Over The Citadel Behind Late Surge
Back in action after a week off for exams, South Carolina returned to Colonial Life Arena on Saturday night looking to shake off the rust and keep building momentum. The Gamecocks did just that, but not without a fight, pulling away late to secure a hard-earned win over The Citadel.
This one wasn’t always pretty, but it was gritty-and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need coming off a break. The final margin doesn’t tell the full story of a game that saw multiple lead changes, cold shooting stretches, and a second-half tug-of-war that tested South Carolina’s composure.
First Half: A Slow Burn
The Gamecocks came out with early energy, getting to the line and converting. Kobe Knox drew a foul on a three-point attempt and knocked down all three free throws. Meechie Johnson followed with an and-1, and South Carolina built a small cushion heading into the first media timeout, leading 12-6.
But then the offense sputtered. A 4:25 scoring drought allowed The Citadel to claw back in, taking the lead on a layup as South Carolina struggled to generate clean looks. Eli Ellis finally ended the dry spell at the line, but the Bulldogs had found their rhythm, taking a two-point lead midway through the first half.
South Carolina needed a spark, and they got one from their defense. That turned into transition opportunities and a 9-0 run, highlighted by Knox attacking the rim and finishing through contact.
The Gamecocks pushed their lead to seven before The Citadel trimmed it back to three late in the half. A late push sent South Carolina into the locker room with a 35-28 advantage.
Second Half: Trading Blows
Out of the break, South Carolina looked to create some breathing room, but turnovers on back-to-back possessions gave The Citadel life. A strong drive from Knox and a finish by Sharavjamts helped restore a nine-point cushion, but the Bulldogs refused to go away, repeatedly slicing the deficit back to five.
With just over seven minutes left, the Gamecocks were clinging to a four-point lead. Meechie Johnson hit a pair of free throws, but The Citadel responded with a layup and a trip to the line off a turnover. South Carolina was out of sync offensively, and the Bulldogs took advantage, keeping it a one-possession game.
Then came a moment the Gamecocks had been waiting for. After a cold night from deep, Myles Stute finally knocked down a three-pointer-his first make after 20 attempts.
It was a sigh of relief and a momentum swing. The Citadel answered with a triple of their own, but South Carolina’s poise started to show.
Closing Time
With just over four minutes remaining, Johnson connected from deep to stretch the lead to seven. The Citadel hit a jumper, but Benjamin Polk answered right back with a three-ball of his own. Johnson then got to the line again and calmly sank two more free throws, and suddenly the Gamecocks were up nine.
Assemian added an exclamation point, grabbing an offensive board and finishing through contact. That sequence sealed it. South Carolina had weathered the storm and closed strong, showing the kind of late-game execution that head coach Lamont Paris has been preaching.
Takeaways
This wasn’t the Gamecocks’ cleanest outing, but it was a valuable one. They overcame long scoring droughts, stayed composed when The Citadel made its runs, and leaned on their veterans when it mattered most. Meechie Johnson’s ability to get to the line and control tempo down the stretch was critical, while Knox and Polk provided timely buckets.
It’s the kind of game that might not make headlines, but it builds character-and confidence. South Carolina improves to 6-3 on the season and now turns its attention to the heart of non-conference play, with an eye on sharpening execution before SEC action begins.
Bottom line: they got the job done. And sometimes, especially in December, that’s all that matters.