The South Carolina Gamecocks took out some frustration on the UTEP Miners in the consolation bracket of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Classic, winning 80-56 in a game they never trailed.
Unlike yesterday against Illinois State, the Gamecocks immediately got off to a hot start, building a double-digit lead within the first 6 minutes. South Carolina never looked back, closing the first half with a 50-24 advantage after a 55% shooting performance. The Gamecocks also wreaked havoc on defense, forcing 23 UTEP turnovers and nabbed eight steals with two blocks. South Carolina finished the game shooting 47% from the field and a much better 78% from the free-throw line, though 3-point shooting performance (8-of-24) still left a bit to be desired.