Final Box (pdf)

COLUMBIA – Zac Cuthbertson recorded his fourth double-double of the season, but it was not enough in a tight 85-79 loss at South Carolina.
 
Cuthbertson had a team-high 24 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. He also tied for team-high honors with three assists and three steals.
 
The Chanticleers shot 39 percent (25-64) from the field and 48 percent (11-23) on its three-point attempts.  CCU also did a good job at the line knocking down 18-23 for 78 percent.
 
David Pierce came off the bench to score 10 points as did Tommy Burton who also chipped in with 10 points and five rebounds.
 
CCU out rebounded the taller Gamecocks 40-34 and had 13 second-chance points off 16 offensive rebounds.
 
USC had two 20-point scorers in A.J. Lawson (25) and Hassani Gravett (23). USC shot 33 free throws in the game and between Lawson and Gravett, the twosome shot 22 of those making 16.
 
The Gamecocks shot43 percent (25-58) from the field and finished the game making 10 of its 26 (39%) three-point field goals. Overall at the free throw line, USC shot 76 percent knocking down 25 of its 33 free throws.
 
Midway through the second half, CCU trailed USC 63-61, but went four minutes without scoring. USC was able to score seven straight points to push the lead to nine. CCU cut the lead to four, but could get no closer in the six-point loss.
 
USC scored 15 points off CCU turnovers and had 12 second-chance points off its 10 offensive rebounds.
 
USC hit a barrage of threes in the opening half including one at the horn to go into the locker room with a 50-41 lead.
 
USC hit eight three-point field goals in the opening 20 minutes. Six different Gamecocks hit threes with two of those hitting two. Lawson led the way with 12 points as USC finished the first half shooting 43 percent from the field.

CCU went cold and did not score the final 3:37 of the first half allowing the home team to finish the half on a 7-0 run.
 
Cuthbertson had 13 points and Pierce came off the bench to add 10.  CCU shot 41 percent from the field, but it was 10 first-half turnovers that led to 10 USC points that hurt the Chants.
 
CCU will be back home Dec. 5 to host Hampton in a 7:30 p.m. tip. The game is the second half of a double-header with the women hosting Meredith at 5 p.m.
 
For complete coverage of CCU men's basketball, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalMBB (twitter), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (facebook), @GoCCUSports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at goccusports.com.