Gamecocks match last season’s win total: How they beat Elon without Meechie Johnson
Sprinkling in some Christmas-themed references, South Carolina head coach Lamont Paris was glad to survive the final game before the holiday break. USC didn’t just survive, though — they dominated the game against Elon, despite a new challenge the Gamecocks were presented with Friday night.
“It always feels good to get through that game as you head into Christmas,” Paris said. “You know, the guys have visions of sugar plums dancing. That’s what the saying is, right?”
Friday’s new challenge: how to perform without Meechie Johnson. The starting guard didn’t play with a right knee injury.
It proved to be a nonissue, and the Gamecocks (11-1) tied their win total from last season with a 70-43 win over Elon at Colonial Life Arena.
Pacing without Meechie Johnson
Take away South Carolina’s fastest player on the court, and USC is a bit slower on offense. Without Johnson adding that additional burst on the court, Paris made a few adjustments in the starting lineup.
He moved Jacobi Wright into Johnson’s spot. Wright started 15 games last season, and Friday was the 25th start of his career. Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk, Zach Davis and Collin Murray-Boyles all had increased minutes, with Bosmans-Verdonk and Murray-Boyles seeing their most action so far this season.
“I think it’s good for the experience, getting to play those minutes,” USC’s Ta’Lon Cooper said. “I mean, you never know when someone might go down again and we need players to step up, so I feel like that’s a good thing it happened tonight. So that way, going to conference, we’ll be ready if that does happen.”
It took a while for USC to find its footing without their leading scorer. Both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm for most of the first half. Finally, South Carolina got its open shots and picked up the pace.
Four Gamecocks reached double-digits: Wright, Murray-Boyles, Cooper and Myles Stute.
Paris’ decision to extend minutes for Murray-Boyles, Bosmans-Verdonk and Morris Ugusuk was two-fold: It helps give those Gamecocks some extra reps before SEC play, especially when two of those three will be new to conference games. Paris could also try new combinations on the court to see what else could work.
Johnson is considered day-to-day, and Paris didn’t provide any timeline for his return. The head coach did confirm Johnson’s injury wasn’t structural, but there was inflammation.
Super Cooper
Cooper averaged 9.5 points per game before Friday night. His season high was 15 points.
He scored 17 points against the Phoenix.
“I wouldn’t say it’s next-man mentality,” Cooper said. “Everybody stepped up and just connected.”
The point guard’s performance made it much easier for South Carolina to relax throughout the game. He even sank a Johnson-esque 3-pointer, to which the injured guard was ready to jump up and celebrate the shot.
Cooper hasn’t averaged double-digit points per game his entire career, but after Friday’s game he’ll be in the category for the first time.
It’s a small confidence boost with only one game left in nonconference play. More importantly, it’s not just Johnson and BJ Mack scoring big regularly, and it adds another high-scoring guard to South Carolina’s depth chart.
Phoenix held back
South Carolina earned a new milestone under Paris: lowest allowed points in a game.
Prior to Friday, USC’s best defensive effort was 53 points allowed against USC Upstate during the season opener Nov. 6 (and against the Spartans last season) and Notre Dame on Nov. 28. Elon scored 43 points in Colonial Life Arena, shooting just 14% from 3-point range and 34% from the field.
Elon hadn’t scored under 68 points before facing South Carolina.
“They average 80-something points for the season,” Paris said. “And they won’t score 43 again. I promise you that.”
The Phoenix had 15 turnovers, and USC benefited with 17 points off those turnovers. South Carolina had 17 offensive rebounds and won the overall board battle 44-31. The Phoenix shot 69% from the free-throw line. While it’s still December, stacking these milestones, again, builds confidence ahead of USC’s opening SEC slate.
That’s exactly what Paris and the Gamecocks need before Mississippi State comes to town in two weeks.
“It’s not that they thrive — we all thrive on confidence as players. They need confidence at this point,” Paris said. “They must feel good about themselves to play well. And so I think there’s a lot of benefit to go out there and have some successes.”
Other notable stats
USC has extended its home win streak to eight games, the longest since the 2015-16 season. It’s also the first time the Gamecocks won more than nine games since the 2017-18 season.
Friday night was the first time USC held an opponent under 45 since Nov. 2019 against Wyoming.
BJ Mack’s nine points marks his first back-to-back games with single-digit points since Feb. 27, 2021 and March 6, 2021, while he was in his first season at Wofford College.
Next four games
Dec. 30 vs. Florida A&M, 2 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)
Jan. 6 vs. Mississippi State, noon (CBS)
Jan. 9 at Alabama, 7 p.m. (SEC Network)
Jan. 13 at Missouri, 3:30 p.m. (SEC Network)
