At the Buzzer: South Carolina 77, Florida 70 (Instant Breakdown)
Sunday, March 26, 2017 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
With the Final Four on the line, the Gators fell to their SEC rival Gamecocks in NCAA East Region title game.
AT THE BUZZER
NCAA EAST REGION FINAL
SOUTH CAROLINA 77, FLORIDA 70
WHAT HAPPENED: Down seven points to start the second half, the seventh-seeded Gamecocks rallied behind 2017 Southeastern Conference Player of Year Sindarius Thornwell's 26 points and seven rebounds to defeat the No. 4-seed Gators in the NCAA East Region title game before a raucous and overwhelmingly pro-Carolina crowd at sold-out Madison Square Garden in New York City. In the first NCAA Tournament game featuring two SEC teams in 31 years, the Gators led 63-61 with just under four minutes to go, but the Gamecocks scored back-to-back baskets on their next two possessions -- on a stick-back by forward Chris Silva and two free throws from Thornwell -- and UF never got any closer than two the rest of the way. The Gators were undone by 33-percent shooting in the second half, including 0-for-14 from the 3-point line, and fouls, as South Carolina, which shot 49 percent for the game, was in the one-and-one bonus with 14:53 left in the game. USC guard D.J. Dozier scored 17 points and forward Chris Silva had 13 points and nine rebounds, as the Gamecocks outscored the Gators 44-30 after halftime. UF was led by 18 points from senior forward Justin Leon and 13 from sophomore guard KeVaughn Allen.
WHAT IT MEANS: The Gators' season ends with a record of 27-8 and loss in a regional title game for the fourth time in nine appearances, with all four defeats coming since the 2011 season. The Gamecocks, meanwhile, became the first SEC team other than Florida or Kentucky to reach the Final Four since Mississippi State in 1996. South Carolina (26-10) will play No. 1 Gonzaga (36-1), winner of the West Region, in the national semifinals at the Final Four next Saturday night in Glendale, Ariz.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Thornwell was SEC POY for a reason and followed it up with Most Outstanding Player honors for East Region. Thornwell went 8-for-13 from the floor and 9-for-10 from the free-throw line to go with his seven boards, two steals and two blocked shots. When UF led 55-52 inside seven minutes left, Thornwell just scored 10 of his team's next 12 points, including eight straight, and assisted on the basket he didn't score, with his two free throws at 2:24 remaining pushing the Gamecocks ahead for good.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: After going 7-for-12 in the first half from the 3-point line, the Gators failed to hit any of their 14 treys in the second half -- and weren't great from inside the arc, either (11-for-21). The Gamecocks had much to do with that, of course, playing to their reputation as defensive maulers. They entered the game ranked No. 2 in the nation in defensive efficiency, according to KenPom advance metrics, and guarded UF at 41.7 percent for the game and 26.9 from the 3-point line.
UP NEXT: A few days to ponder what might have been. Eventually, those emotions will give way to an appreciation for a memorable season and the contributions of four outgoing seniors -- point guard Kasey Hill, forwards Leon and Canyon Barry, plus walk-on center Schuyler Rimmer -- and what they brought to the program.
NCAA EAST REGION FINAL
SOUTH CAROLINA 77, FLORIDA 70
WHAT HAPPENED: Down seven points to start the second half, the seventh-seeded Gamecocks rallied behind 2017 Southeastern Conference Player of Year Sindarius Thornwell's 26 points and seven rebounds to defeat the No. 4-seed Gators in the NCAA East Region title game before a raucous and overwhelmingly pro-Carolina crowd at sold-out Madison Square Garden in New York City. In the first NCAA Tournament game featuring two SEC teams in 31 years, the Gators led 63-61 with just under four minutes to go, but the Gamecocks scored back-to-back baskets on their next two possessions -- on a stick-back by forward Chris Silva and two free throws from Thornwell -- and UF never got any closer than two the rest of the way. The Gators were undone by 33-percent shooting in the second half, including 0-for-14 from the 3-point line, and fouls, as South Carolina, which shot 49 percent for the game, was in the one-and-one bonus with 14:53 left in the game. USC guard D.J. Dozier scored 17 points and forward Chris Silva had 13 points and nine rebounds, as the Gamecocks outscored the Gators 44-30 after halftime. UF was led by 18 points from senior forward Justin Leon and 13 from sophomore guard KeVaughn Allen.
WHAT IT MEANS: The Gators' season ends with a record of 27-8 and loss in a regional title game for the fourth time in nine appearances, with all four defeats coming since the 2011 season. The Gamecocks, meanwhile, became the first SEC team other than Florida or Kentucky to reach the Final Four since Mississippi State in 1996. South Carolina (26-10) will play No. 1 Gonzaga (36-1), winner of the West Region, in the national semifinals at the Final Four next Saturday night in Glendale, Ariz.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Thornwell was SEC POY for a reason and followed it up with Most Outstanding Player honors for East Region. Thornwell went 8-for-13 from the floor and 9-for-10 from the free-throw line to go with his seven boards, two steals and two blocked shots. When UF led 55-52 inside seven minutes left, Thornwell just scored 10 of his team's next 12 points, including eight straight, and assisted on the basket he didn't score, with his two free throws at 2:24 remaining pushing the Gamecocks ahead for good.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: After going 7-for-12 in the first half from the 3-point line, the Gators failed to hit any of their 14 treys in the second half -- and weren't great from inside the arc, either (11-for-21). The Gamecocks had much to do with that, of course, playing to their reputation as defensive maulers. They entered the game ranked No. 2 in the nation in defensive efficiency, according to KenPom advance metrics, and guarded UF at 41.7 percent for the game and 26.9 from the 3-point line.
UP NEXT: A few days to ponder what might have been. Eventually, those emotions will give way to an appreciation for a memorable season and the contributions of four outgoing seniors -- point guard Kasey Hill, forwards Leon and Canyon Barry, plus walk-on center Schuyler Rimmer -- and what they brought to the program.
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