NCAAB Game Recap - Norfolk State at South Carolina
Tue Nov 13, 2018 7:00 PM EST

GaTec
53
Tenn
66
F
Mem
76
LSU
85
F
Wisc
77
Xav
68
F
TNTec
83
Savan
97
F
Harv
74
UMass
71
F
(N/A)
51
How
108
F
(N/A)
62
Del
100
F
UMassL
74
CenCT
86
F
(N/A)
99
Winth
134
F
WIMil
83
FIU
86
F
UGA
77
Temp
81
F
UNCG
82
UNCW
61
F
DelSt
62
LoyMD
91
F
Manch
65
IPFW
111
F
CarBi
35
Woff
94
F
CmbTN
61
Chat
92
F
HarSm
52
TxSt
97
F
HolyC
61
Prov
70
F
W MI
85
Oakl
77
F(OT)
Longw
66
MD-ES
63
F
Maris
72
Leh
78
F
GMas
89
GaSo
98
F
GWebb
86
Furm
88
F(OT)
(N/A)
52
E KY
107
F
(N/A)
54
Dart
100
F
Urba
65
Clev
94
F
URI
55
Charl
66
F
Canis
82
Buck
73
F
(N/A)
58
Merrim
90
F
Norf
64
SouthCar
81
F
Lafy
61
Penn
91
F
UNCA
49
NCSU
100
F
SFA
58
Mia-FL
96
F
South
54
Lou
104
F
(N/A)
69
Kent
90
F
Mercer
60
GASt
62
F
NCC
51
Cin
73
F
(N/A)
44
BethC
104
F
SCSt
72
ChaSo
89
F
SeLA
40
TxTch
59
F
(N/A)
58
LaTec
89
F
LIU
89
Fairf
87
F
CoCar
76
Tul
81
F
Drake
71
Colora
100
F
ArkLR
83
TNSt
67
F
CBU
70
ORU
69
F
ChiSt
71
IlSt
75
F
N AL
58
StLou
69
F
GTown
88
Ill
80
F
Trev
40
Lib
93
F
CSNor
64
LoyMa
79
F
MsVl
59
UtSt
94
F
Pepp
80
N CO
88
F
Iona
83
NM
90
F
NWSt
57
BYU
82
F
Hamp
66
Cal
80
F
CalLu
32
UCSB
88
F
(N/A)
66
Pacif
91
F
UCRiv
51
UNLV
72
F
Nich
83
Ida
80
F

Nov 13, 2018, 7:00 PM EST

Final

1

2

T

Norfolk State

23

41

64

South Carolina

37

44

81

South Carolina cruises past Norfolk State 81-64
Tue Nov 13, 2018 9:56 PM

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) Senior guard Hassani Gravett and freshman guard A.J. Lawson scored 18 points apiece and South Carolina whipped Norfolk State 81-64 Tuesday night in its final tuneup before the conclusion of the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Tipoff.

Justin Minaya scored 10 points and Felipe Haase had nine for the Gamecocks (2-1) while the Spartans (2-2) got 15 points from Nic Thomas. South Carolina swished 11 3-pointers just two games after going 0-for-18 from long range, with Gravett connecting on five and Lawson hitting three.

"Good to come out and play well," South Carolina coach Frank Martin said. "Good to see us play through our principles through the first 32, 33 minutes of the game."

Norfolk wilted under the barrage after a first half where it could have stayed closer because of South Carolina foul trouble. Starting bigs Chris Silva and Maik Kotsar were each on the bench but the Spartans were 14-of-22 from the free-throw line, allowing South Carolina to take a 14-point lead into halftime.

"We make those, theoretically, it's a whole different game," Spartans coach Robert Jones said. "We were perfect in the second half."

The lead swelled to as many as 28 in the second half as the Gamecocks cruised to the finish. Norfolk State used a multiple zone look, trying to confuse South Carolina and shut down the reliance on Silva and Kotsar.

It mostly worked, the two combining for 16 points. But when the Gamecocks' guards were firing 3-pointers over the zones, the Spartans had to answer.

They hit 10-of-22 3-pointers but most were at the end with the result already decided. "They weren't making those shots earlier in the year," Jones said.

Martin was glad to see his young team handle another night where Silva and Kotsar weren't large factors.

"When I had the open shot, I shot it," said Gravett, who was one off his career-high. "Everything felt good and it just went in for me."

BIG PICTURE

South Carolina: The Gamecocks needed to answer after a shocking loss to Stony Brook. They have young talent but they won't go anywhere if Silva and Kotsar don't play to their best every night.

Norfolk State: The Spartans are trying to build up enough experience before they hit the MEAC schedule. As Jones said, nothing against the competition they'll face from here on, but it won't be as physical as South Carolina and Michigan were.

STAR WATCH

Besides scoring 18, Lawson had eight assists and six rebounds. The top player in Canada who re-classified to this year so he could play right away for Martin, Lawson is already a mainstay in the starting lineup.

INJURIES

South Carolina again had a thin bench, although freshman guard T.J. Moss played his first minutes after missing the first two games with a foot problem. Freshman Alanzo Frink is still recovering from a knee injury, although he will travel with the team on its next road trip, while Nathan Nelson is sick and Jermaine Couisnard is still trying to get his academic situation resolved.

UP NEXT

Each team heads to the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, to conclude their stays in the Hall of Fame Tipoff.

South Carolina: plays Providence on Saturday, an unranked team but the first major name on the schedule. The Friars have made the last five NCAA tournaments.

Norfolk State: faces Siena Saturday trying to get back over .500 for the season. They could play Stony Brook, which beat South Carolina last week, on Sunday.

Leaders

Norfolk State PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
N. Thomas 15 0 1 1 0 0
J. Butler 8 0 0 2 0 1
South Carolina PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
A. Lawson 18 0 8 6 1 1
H. Gravett 18 0 4 4 0 2

Team Comparison

Norf SouthCar
Points For 64 81
Field Goals 20/47-43% 28/54-52%
Three Pointers 10/22-45% 11/29-38%
Free Throws 14/22-64% 14/21-67%
Offensive Rebounds 3 8
Defensive Rebounds 21 28
Rebounds 24 41
Blocks 3 8
Steals 5 7
Turnovers 15 15
Personal Fouls 22 16
Technical Fouls 0 0
Ejections 0 0

2018-19 Reg Season - SouthCar Leads Series 1-0

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Tue Nov 13 Norf 64 @ SouthCar 81 N. Thomas 15 A. Lawson 18

Game Information

Stadium: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, South Carolina
Attendance: 9,038
Game Time: