It never got close enough to get contentious.
South Carolina made nice with Missouri during the lead up to Monday night’s game in Colonial Life Arena, but that stopped at the opening tip as the Gamecocks thumped the Tigers 79-65 and took over sole possession of second-place in the SEC.
It was much less exciting than the teams’ last meeting, a 64-54 South Carolina win that resulted in months of bickering and even a lawsuit filed by Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley against Missouri athletics director Jim Sterk. USC officials were delighted that the only storylines this time revolved around basketball.