Columbia, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina ended a seven-game losing streak Saturday with a 97-89 victory over Mississippi State. Meechie Johnson scored 21 points and added a career-high nine assists for the Gamecocks (12-15, 3-11 Southeastern Conference).
Elijah Strong contributed 16 points, while Kobe Knox added 17. Eli Ellis scored 11 off the bench to help South Carolina set a season high with 97 points. The Gamecocks led early after an 8-0 run in the first half, which included points from Johnson and Knox, and went into halftime ahead 46-39.
South Carolina’s largest lead was 89-76 following a 6-0 run with 2:17 remaining. Mississippi State (13-14, 5-9) was led by Quincy Ballard, who scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Jaden Epps scored 13 in the first half before leaving the game with an injury and did not return.
SEC leading scorer Josh Hubbard finished with 13 points after scoring only two in the first half. Ja’Borri McGhee added 12 points, and Sergei Macura scored 10. The Gamecocks shot 85% from the free-throw line, going 23 of 27.
Next up, Mississippi State will visit No. 25 Alabama on Wednesday. South Carolina hosts Kentucky on Tuesday.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
