Box Score COLUMBIA, SC—Senior guard Eric "EJ" Eaves tossed in a team-high 18 points, but it wasn't enough as South Carolina State dropped a tough, 92-50, defeat to SEC foe University of South Carolina in the Brooklyn Hoops Holiday Invitational Friday (Nov.18) at Colonial Life Arena.

"It was a tough loss for our team tonight against a very talented and well coached South Carolina team, but we have to learn from this and keep moving forward," said head coach Murray Garvin. "We have a young team with six newcomers so they are still trying to find their way."

The Bulldogs fall to 1-2 on the season, while the Gamecocks remain unbeaten and improve to 4-0. Junior forward Tashombe Riley chipped in 10, while freshman forward Ian Kinard added four points and six rebounds in the loss.

South Carolina State got off to a slow shooting start connecting on 9-of-28 in the first-half.  Despite the lofty start the Bulldogs defense forced 13 turnovers on the evening.

"The thing that stands out the most was that they out-rebounded us," said Garvin. "They(Gamecocks) had 28 second chance points to our four and that was the deciding factor down the stretch."

The Gamecocks had three players to finish in double-figures with senior Sindarius Thornwell leading the way with a game-high 22 points, while teammates Maik Kotsar added 15 and Chris Silva 11 in the win.

UP NEXT
South Carolina State resume play in the Brooklyn Hoops Holiday Invitational when travel to take on the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome Tuesday, Nov. 22. Tip-off is 7 p.m. (EST).