It didn’t take the South Carolina Gamecocks long to turn the page on last season’s Final Four run and morph into a three-point shooting squad based on finding the three inside of a patient offense.
Six different Gamecocks combined for eight threes in the first half and South Carolina shot 11-23 from behind the arc for the game in handing Wofford a 73-52 loss in the opener at the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium on Wofford’s campus.
Martin’s defense once again traveled, as well, holding Wofford to 34.7 percent and Magee to 7-of-17 from the field.
“I thought we were real good defensively,” said Carolina coach Frank Martin, “I was concerned about our defense. Our defense is hard to play and they (Wofford) do such a great job on getting their guards space. We had to be really good on the ball so we didn’t get caught on help.”
Make Kotsar led four Gamecocks in double figures with 13 points as South Carolina. he was key in the decisive 22-4 run that saw USC turn a 25-22 lead at the three minute mark of the first half into a 47-26 margin with 16:12 remaining.
“Bodies changed; big strong people,”said Wofford coach Mike Young, “Two fouls on Cameron Jackson hurts us and I had a couple of kids who are going to be really good players for us who maybe weren’t ready for the moment.”
Frank Booker set the pace early with two of five triples in the first eight minutes.
It was apparent that the physicality of the graduate student, late of Florida Atlantic, had a presence on the perimeter against Wofford scorers Fletcher McGee and Nathan Hoover.
“I was careful with the line ups today,” said Martin, “The best part about it was our spacing and execution was great today because it didn’t stick. Everyone relaxes and it becomes easier.”
South Carolina hosts Western Michigan at 8 p.m. on Monday before the Puerto Rico Tip-off opener against Illinois State on Thursday in Myrtle Beach.
The tournament was moved to Myrtle Beach after the devastation of the hurricanes in Puerto Rico over the summer.