“Gamecocks Stay Perfect! South Carolina Finds a New Way to Win Despite Cold Shooting Night vs. Presbyterian”

There will always be nights when the shots simply don’t fall — and Wednesday was one of those nights for South Carolina basketball. But instead of letting cold shooting define the game, the Gamecocks found new ways to win, grinding out an 81–61 victory over Presbyterian to stay unbeaten at 3–0 on the season.

Despite the scoreline, it wasn’t the cleanest performance for South Carolina, especially early on. The team shot just 37 percent from the field and 33 percent from three, far below its typical efficiency. However, the Gamecocks showed maturity by finding other ways to generate offense — something that will matter more once SEC play begins in January.

Freshman guard Grant Polk provided the early spark, knocking down three triples in the first half and finishing with 12 points on a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the arc.

“He gave us exactly what we needed when our rhythm was off,” one assistant coach said postgame. “He’s confident, and that confidence spreads.”

Defensively, South Carolina looked much sharper than it did in its overtime battle with Southern Miss. The Gamecocks limited Presbyterian to 28 percent shooting in the first half — and crucially, the Blue Hose failed to make a single three-pointer all night, finishing 0-for-8 from deep. Their 42.4 percent overall shooting marked a season low in scoring output.

Offensively, South Carolina didn’t lean as heavily on the long ball as it had in prior games. Instead, it attacked the paint and got to the free-throw line — where it went 25-for-32. The improved shot selection and discipline helped the Gamecocks shoot 48.1 percent in the second half and 42.1 percent overall, while committing just six turnovers, their fewest of the season.

In addition to Polk’s breakout performance, Mike Sharavjamts led all scorers with 13 points on an efficient 4-of-7 shooting. Myles Stute and Jordan Butler each chipped in 11 points, rounding out a balanced offensive night.

With this win, South Carolina stays perfect and shows early signs of maturity — learning to win even when shots aren’t falling. The Gamecocks will look to carry that momentum into their next matchup against Radford on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at Colonial Life Arena. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network+.