Silva gets hot late, South Carolina beats UMass 76-70
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Freshman Justin Minaya scored 17 points, Chris Silva had 12 of his 14 points in the second half and South Carolina defeated UMass 76-70 on Saturday.
Silva, coming off a two-point performance in a Thursday loss to Temple at Madison Square Garden, was in foul trouble for most of the game. He and Maik Kotsar entered the game with 5:40 remaining with four fouls apiece and Silva delivered back-to-back dunks in 34 seconds to put USC up by six.
The Minutemen cut the advantage to two with 19.4 seconds remaining on a 3-pointer by Carl Pierre, but Hassani Gravett made four straight free throws to seal it.
Gravett finished with 14 points for South Carolina (6-2), while freshman Felipe Haase chipped in 11.
"The job me and my staff are doing right now is pathetic," South Carolina coach Frank Martin said. "We regressed this week. We're a worse basketball team than we were eight days ago. That's my job to make sure that doesn't happen."
Luwane Pipkins led UMass (3-5) with 25 and Pierre added 12. The Minutemen have lost four straight.
"I though our guys were prepared. I thought our guys were excited. I thought they were ready to play . but, in order to win a game like this, it starts with your approach every single day," UMass coach Matt McCall said.
UP NEXT
UMass returns home following a four-game road stretch to host Holy Cross on Wednesday. It is the first of five straight home games.
The Gamecocks host Wyoming on Wednesday in their second of a three-game home stand.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Garrick Shannon
- Doug Sirmons
- Olandis Poole
2024-25 Atlantic 10 Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Dayton | 0-0 | - | 5-0 |
Loyola Chicago | 0-0 | - | 5-0 |
St. Bonaventure | 0-0 | - | 5-0 |
Davidson | 0-0 | - | 4-0 |
Rhode Island | 0-0 | - | 4-0 |
George Washington | 0-0 | - | 4-1 |
La Salle | 0-0 | - | 4-2 |
Saint Joseph's | 0-0 | - | 4-2 |
VCU | 0-0 | - | 4-2 |
Fordham | 0-0 | - | 3-3 |
George Mason | 0-0 | - | 3-3 |
Saint Louis | 0-0 | - | 2-2 |
Richmond | 0-0 | - | 2-3 |
Massachusetts | 0-0 | - | 1-3 |
Duquesne | 0-0 | - | 0-4 |