Gamecocks Look to Bounce Back Against Presbyterian After Narrow Overtime Escape vs. Southern Miss
After a nerve-wracking overtime win over Southern Miss, the South Carolina men’s basketball team will aim to clean up mistakes and continue its unbeaten start when it faces Presbyterian on Wednesday night at Colonial Life Arena (7 p.m., SEC Network+).
The Gamecocks (2-0) escaped with the victory last Sunday but showed plenty of areas for improvement. As they prepare for their next matchup, here are three key storylines to watch.
1. Learn to Close Out Games When Opportunity Knocks
South Carolina looked sharp early against Southern Miss, hitting 10 of its first 13 shots and leading by as many as 16 points in the first half. But the momentum didn’t last. The Gamecocks went ice cold, making just three of their next 20 shots, allowing the Golden Eagles to cut the deficit to four by halftime — and later take an 11-point lead in the second half.
Ultimately, South Carolina rallied to win in overtime, but the lapse was a reminder that closing out games remains a major hurdle. Against North Carolina A&T, the Gamecocks had no trouble maintaining control, but against Southern Miss, they let up when they had a chance to seal the win early.
This time, the focus will be on consistency. Presbyterian averages just 62 points per game against Division I opponents, so South Carolina should have no problem generating offense — as long as it keeps its foot on the gas. Complacency nearly cost them last game; this week is about maintaining intensity for all 40 minutes.
2. The Three-Point Barrage Is Working — But What’s Plan B?
Through two games, South Carolina has become one of college basketball’s most trigger-happy teams from behind the arc, averaging 37.5 three-point attempts per game — up from 21.2 last season. Against Southern Miss, the Gamecocks launched a school-record 43 threes, hitting 16 of them for a 37.2% clip.
Head coach Lamont Paris made it clear this offseason that the team would live — and occasionally die — by the three-pointer. “This is who we are,” Paris said earlier in the season. “We’re going to shoot it, and we’re going to trust our shooters.”
So far, the approach has worked, with the Gamecocks shooting 40% (30-for-75) from deep. But there’s a catch — when the shots stop falling, the offense struggles to find alternative scoring options. South Carolina started 6-for-8 from deep against Southern Miss before going 10-for-35 the rest of the way, allowing the Golden Eagles to claw back into the game.
While they’ll likely overpower Presbyterian even on an off shooting night, the Gamecocks need to prove they can win through other means — attacking the rim, drawing fouls, or scoring in transition — especially against tougher SEC competition down the road.
3. Clean Up Transition Defense and Turnovers
Turnovers have been another early-season concern. South Carolina committed 15 turnovers against Southern Miss and 13 against NC A&T, many of them the result of careless passes. Those mistakes turned into 16 fast-break points for the Golden Eagles, exposing defensive vulnerabilities in transition.
The defensive struggles didn’t end there. Southern Miss’ Isaac Taveras and Tylik Weeks combined for 45 points, relentlessly attacking the paint and drawing 14 free throws. At times, South Carolina’s defense looked a step slow and gave up too many uncontested looks.
Paris experimented with a 1-3-1 zone, which steadied things briefly, but the Gamecocks still have plenty to prove on that end. “We have to be better defensively,” Paris said. “That’s something we’ve always taken pride in, and it has to show.”
Looking Ahead
As South Carolina prepares to host Presbyterian, the mission is clear: tighten up defensively, take smarter shots, and learn how to put games away early. The Gamecocks have shown flashes of dominance — now it’s about sustaining that level of play for four full quarters.
If they can do that, Wednesday’s matchup could be the statement win that resets their rhythm for the rest of the season.
