The Daily Gamecock

Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Josh D. Weiss/The Associated Press Senior guard Dwayne Day tries to slow down Georgia's Sundiata Gaines. Gaines and the Bulldogs shot 51 percent from the field in the 82-64 whipping on Wednesday night.

The University of South Carolina men's basketball team headed across their western border to battle the Bulldogs from Georgia, but the Bulldogs ran the Gamecocks out of the gym and back into the team bus as they defeated the Gamecocks 82-64 Wednesday evening. With the loss, USC drops to below .500 at 11-12 on the year and 3-6 in the SEC. Georgia pulls even with the Gamecocks in the east with the win and moves their overall record to 12-10.

USC got behind the eight ball early and could never recover. After trading baskets to start the game, UGA pulled ahead for good and before USC could get started, the lead was already in the double figures, just five minutes into the game. The lead grew to as many as twenty-one points in the first half and the Gamecocks saw themselves down 46-29 at the end of the first half.

The story of the game was the poor shooting by the Gamecocks and the great shooting by the Bulldogs. For the game, UGA shot an outstanding 51 percent including 7 for 16 from behind the arc. The Bulldogs decided this would not be a game during the first half, they shot 6-9 from 3 point land and only missed one of nine free throws. Coming into the game, UGA was one of the worst shooting teams in the SEC.

USC shot only 44 percent for the game including a miserable 8 of 30 from behind the arc, only 27 percent. In the first half, USC shot 36 percent because they launched 3-pointer after 3-pointer.

The catalyst for the Bulldogs was the senior Sundiata Gaines. The guard from Jamaica, N.Y., scored 27 points, including 19 of those which came in first half. During the decisive first half, Gaines shot 4 from 5 from behind the arc.

Gaines was not alone for the Bulldogs as three of his fellow teammates also scored in double figures. Jeremy Price poured in 19 points. Terrance Woodbury added 13 while the big man down low Dave Bliss poured in 12 points and pulled down a game high 12 rebounds.

Once again, the Gamecocks were dominated on the boards. The Bulldogs more than doubled the Gamecocks on the glass as UGA grabbed 43 rebounds while USC only got 21. The difference was the rebounding by the Bulldogs on the offensive end. For the game, UGA recorded 17 offensive rebounds while the Gamecocks only managed 13 defensive rebounds. Every time UGA missed, they were there to get the rebound making it hard for the Gamecocks to get into the game.

The Gamecocks were once again led on the offensive side by sophomore sensation guard Devan Downey. The Chester, S.C. native scored 20 points while another transfer, junior guard Zam Fredrick II added 15. These Gamecocks were the only ones making baskets as they together shot 14 of 28 from the field, including 7 of 16 from behind the arc. The rest of the team only shot 1 of 14 from behind the line.

The Gamecocks return to the Colonial Center on Saturday evening to face the Crimson Tide of Alabama. The game will be televised on FSN.

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