South Carolina defeated Mississippi State 97-89 Saturday afternoon in Columbia. The Gamecocks outscored the Bulldogs in the second half to secure the victory, after leading by seven at halftime.
Mississippi State took an early 39-34 lead midway through the first half. South Carolina responded with an 8-0 run, giving them a 46-39 advantage at halftime. The second half saw the Gamecocks extend their lead, despite efforts from the Bulldogs to mount a comeback.
Quincy Ballard led Mississippi State with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Jayden Epps scored 13 points in the first half before leaving the game with an injury. Josh Hubbard also scored 13 points for the Bulldogs. A key factor in the loss was South Carolina’s shooting from beyond the arc, where they drained 12 of 24 attempts.
Mississippi State faces a road game against Alabama on Wednesday, Feb. 25, with tipoff scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU.
