Gamecocks Fall Just Short Again in Gritty Battle Against No. 19 Ole Miss
COLUMBIA, SC – South Carolina came agonizingly close to breaking through for its first SEC win, but the wait continues. Despite a valiant effort, the Gamecocks fell to No. 19 Ole Miss in a 72-68 heartbreaker on Wednesday night, extending their conference losing streak to 11 games.
The loss ties South Carolina’s program record for consecutive SEC defeats, a mark set during the 1991-92 season, their first year in the conference.
A Hard-Fought Battle from Start to Finish
Ole Miss entered the game averaging 75.4 points per game in SEC play while shooting 44.7% from the field—and the Rebels wasted no time showcasing their efficiency.
In a scorching first half, Ole Miss shot 65.2% (15-for-23) from the floor, including 6-for-9 from three-point range. Despite their hot shooting, the Gamecocks refused to back down, keeping the deficit from spiraling out of control. South Carolina shot a respectable 44% (11-for-25) but still trailed by 10 points at halftime.
The game got chippy midway through the first half. Mikeal Brown-Jones was whistled for a foul on Jamarii Thomas, and tensions escalated when Brown-Jones appeared to grab Thomas around the upper shoulder/neck area. After a review, officials ruled it a common foul, but technical fouls were assessed to Brown-Jones and Zachary Davis after a heated exchange. The game saw a total of 20 first-half fouls.
Second-Half Surge and Crushing Final Minutes
Despite the early struggles, South Carolina clawed its way back in the second half, cutting the deficit to four points with 13 minutes remaining. The Rebels cooled off, hitting just 3-of-10 shots to start the half, giving the Gamecocks an opening.
Though their shooting woes continued (3-for-10 to start the half), South Carolina capitalized at the free-throw line, going 10-of-14 in the first 10 minutes. Their defensive effort paid off as Ole Miss went ice cold, making just one of their last 10 shots during a critical stretch.
With 6:45 left, South Carolina finally took the lead during a 6-0 run, electrifying the home crowd. The game remained neck-and-neck, with the lead changing hands multiple times. But the defining moment came with just over two minutes left—when Malik Dia was left wide open at the top of the key and drained a clutch three-pointer, putting Ole Miss ahead for good.
In the final seconds, the Gamecocks had a chance to tie the game, but Zachary Davis’ pass to Jamarii Thomas went out of bounds, sealing their fate.
Key Takeaways
The Fight is Still There
Despite the brutal losing streak, South Carolina continues to show resilience. While there have been some tough blowout losses, the team has battled hard in several games—including this one. But like so many times before, they couldn’t close it out.
Another Close Call
Of their 11 SEC losses, six have been decided by five points or fewer. The Gamecocks have repeatedly found themselves in tight contests, only to fall just short in crunch time.
Missed Free Throws Prove Costly
South Carolina’s struggles at the line came back to haunt them. They shot 20-of-32 (62.5%), missing 12 free throws in a four-point loss—a brutal margin in such a tight game.
What’s Next?
The Gamecocks will try to snap their skid on Saturday when they travel to take on No. 3 Florida in Gainesville. Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
