South Carolina falls to Oregon in 2024 March Madness: live updates from Pittsburgh
The moment has arrived. The South Carolina men’s basketball team takes on Oregon at 4 p.m. Thursday in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The State’s Madison Hricik and Jordan Kaye are inside PPG Paints Arena to bring you updates from the game that’s part of the bracket’s Midwest Region.
FINAL SCORE
South Carolina falls to Oregon
The Gamecocks season has come to an end after a XX-XX loss to Oregon in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. At the worst time of the season, South Carolina came out flat and looked disjointed for most of the afternoon.
South Carolina, known for stellar defense, found no way to stop Oregon guard (and former Gamecock) Jermaine Couisnard, who put a dagger through the Gamecocks anytime there was hope. He scored XX points, the most ever by an Oregon player in the NCAA Tournament.
Ducks’ coach Dana Altman is now undefeated in his eight first-round games at Oregon. He found a way to get his team to peak at just the right team, first stealing a bid with a Pac-12 Tournament title and then beating the Gamecocks handily on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Gamecocks will finish the season with a 26-8 record, losing its final two games while giving up over 80 points in each.
South Carolina guard Meechie Johnson led the way with 24 points and Ta’Lon Cooper added 15, including a half-court prayer to end the first half, but the Gamecocks didn’t get much from its big men.
N’Faly Dante putting USC in foul trouble
Oregon’s 7-foot center N’Faly Dante is not just hurting South Carolina with his 22 points and six rebounds, but he’s hurting the Gamecocks ability to play a full rotation.
South Carolina is struggling to defend Dante’ without fouling him, as evidenced by his 13 FTs. At the moment, Gamecocks big man BJ Mack is on the bench with four fouls.
Gamecocks trying to come back
Down five at halftime, South Carolina’s deficit got all the way up to 18 at one point in the second half. The Gamecocks are starting to make more shots — including a triple by Meechie Johnson (11 pts) — but they are still down by 14.
Oregon taking control in second half
After Ta’Lon Cooper’s buzzer beater to end the first half, South Carolina couldn’t carry over the momentum.
In just over five minutes to start the second half, the Ducks have already scored 17 points, including a vicious ally-oop by N’Faly Dante (16 pts) and a deep triple by former South Carolina guard Jermaine Couisnard (21 pts).
Ducks are shooting 62% from the field right now.
Ducks take lead into halftime
To end the first half, South Carolina G Ta’Lon Cooper banked in a half-court heave at the buzzer. Not only did it cause the biggest cheer of the day, it was so desperately needed. It was the first USC field goal in over eight minutes and pulled South Carolina within five.
Just over halfway through the first half, South Carolina led by a bucket. The Gamecocks looked like they’d found a groove — then someone seemingly put glass over the rim. Oregon went on an 18-2 run, led by former Gamecock Jermaine Couisnard (14 points).
South Carolina has really just hurt itself. The Gamecocks are right there with Oregon in rebounds, turnovers and free-throw attempts. But South Carolina is shooting just 32% from the field (9-28) and 33% from deep (4-12)
Cousinard taking over
Playing against his former team, Oregon G Jermaine Couisnard has a game-high 12 pts on 5-8 shooting and just got an And-1 to go through. He’s taken almost half of the Ducks shots and has still found a way to be efficient.
South Carolina needs to get it going offensively. The Gamecocks haven’t scored in almost four minutes and have made just two of their last 12 shots.
Gamecocks starting to hit 3s
On back-top-back possessions, Jacobi Wright and Meechie Johnson nailed shots from beyond the arc, giving the Gamecocks a six-point lead. But then Jermaine Couisnard hit a 3 and the Gamecocks turned the ball over on two-straight possessions.
South Carolina is not shooting 3 of 7 from deep (43%).
South Carolina battling back
In just 10 minutes, South Carolina has already forced Oregon into seven turnovers. The Gamecocks are extremly active on defense and have only given up two shots to Oregon center N’Faly Dante (both makes). BJ Mack leads all scorers with 7 points, but he’s just 3-for-7 shooting.
Oregon takes early lead
The Ducks have come out as the aggressors, starting the game pressing the Gamecocks and keeping South Carolina from getting clean looks inside.
Oregon led by five but South Carolina forward BJ Mack connected on a mid-range jumper and a 3-pointer to put the Gamecocks on the board.
Creighton defeats Akron
Creighton, the No. 3 seed in the Midwest Region, defeated No. 14 Akron 77-60 in the game before South Carolina’s at PPG Paints Arena. The Bluejays advance to play Saturday against the winner of the Gamecocks-Ducks matchup.
Final point spread
South Carolina opened as a 1.5-point favorite in the game, but the line shifted in favor of Oregon by 2.5 points.
South Carolina vs Oregon NCAA Tournament game
Who: No. 6 South Carolina (27-6) vs. No. 11 Oregon (23-11)
When: Thursday, March 21 at 4 p.m. (EST)
Where: PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh
TV Channel: TNT (Andrew Calaton, pbp; Steve Lapas, color; Evan Washburn, reporter)
Stream: Paramount Plus or Max app
Radio in Columbia area: 107.5 FM The Game
Series history: First meeting
