Wooster Takes on Paris' '96 South Carolina Team in Exhibition Contest
Scots led at midpoint of first half and were within two early in second half
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Wooster
0-0,0-0 NCAC
|
32 | 28 | 60 |
|
South Carolina
0-0,0-0 SEC
|
44 | 42 | 86 |
Team Stats
South Carolina
| Game Statistics | Wooster | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (26-57) | (33-69) |
| Field Goal % | 45.6% | 47.8% |
| Rebounds | 26 | 48 |
| Assists | 12 | 19 |
| Turnovers | 16 | 18 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 14 | 21 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 9 | 20 |
| Pts in the Paint | 30 | 38 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 8 | 8 |
| Bench Pts | 17 | 50 |
COLUMBIA, South Carolina – Junior Isaiah Johnson's step-back 3-pointer broke a 20-20 tie with 10:18 remaining in the first half, and The College of Wooster men's basketball team led as late as the half's 9:15 mark in Wednesday's 86-60 exhibition loss at the University of South Carolina.
Wednesday's exhibition was made possible by Lamont Paris '96, South Carolina's head coach. As a Fighting Scot, Paris played on teams that went 84-25, advanced to three NCAA Div. III Championship Tournaments, and won two North Coast Athletic Conference titles. Wooster's 2024 keynote commencement speaker is in year three as head coach at South Carolina. The 2024 Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year led the program to its first NCAA Tournament since 2017. During Wednesday's shootaround, Wooster presented Paris with a No. 22 jersey, his number as a Fighting Scot.
Senior Jamir Billings was fouled on a 3-pointer with 16:16 remaining in Wednesday's first half and sank all three free throws to give Wooster its first lead of the contest at 7-6. First-year Breckman Oakley's pull-up from the left elbow had Wooster back on top at 16-15 as the clock hit 12:17. Junior EJ Kapihe finished at the rim to make it 20-18 at 11:14.
South Carolina answered Johson's step-back trifecta with an 11-0 run that was broken up by senior Ashton Price's desperation 3-pointer as the shot clock was about to expire. Price's drive on the next possession had Wooster with 31-28, but South Carolina hit six of its last seven field goals of the half to take a 44-32 lead.
Wooster's 12-2 run at the onset of the second half had the Scots within 46-44 at 16:06. Billings capped the run with a fall-away jumper. Earlier, Billings found Price for a fast-break layup, and the Scots scored again on the fastbreak when senior JJ Cline stole the ball from Zachary Davis and made the layup.
South Carolina did not make a second-half field goal until the clock reached 15:21. The Gamecocks caught fire from there, hitting three straight triples on the way to a 62-48 lead near the half's midpoint.
Price led Wooster with 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Billings followed with 11 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Wooster shot 45.6 percent (26-of-57) from the floor.
Collin Murray-Boyles led all players with 19 points on 9-of-13 shooting. The sophomore forward finished with a double-double, thanks to 11 rebounds. South Carolina shot 47.8 percent (33-of-69) from the floor.
Wooster's season opens with a home game against Yeshiva University on Sunday, November 10. Tipoff from Timken Gymnasium is at 1 p.m.
