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Murray-Boyles leads No. 15 South Carolina to 20th win with a 68-65 victory over Mississippi

AP
Feb 06, 2024

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) Collin Murray-Boyles scored 16 points and No. 15 South Carolina reached 20 victories for the first time in seven years with a 68-65 victory over Mississippi on Tuesday night.

The Gamecocks (20-3, 8-2 Southeastern Conference) won their first game as a ranked team - and sixth in a row overall - after not appearing in the Top 25 since 2017. That was also the last time they reached 20 victories on the way to the Final Four.

Ta’Lon Cooper and Myles Stute had 12 points each for South Carolina.

Allen Flanigan led all scorers with 26 points, including 16 in the second half to fuel the Rebels' comeback try in the second half.

It looked as if South Carolina had this one in hand in the second half, ahead 53-36 on B.J. Mack's basket with 15:41 to go.

But the Rebels (18-5, 5-5), behind Flanigan, went on a 24-9 run over the next 12 minutes and cut it to 62-60. But Stute followed with his fourth 3-pointer and Murray-Boyles, a freshman, took an inside pass from Josh Gray to extend the lead.

When it looked as if 7-foot-5 Jamarion Sharp had a can't miss basket with 1:20 to go, Murray-Boyles, 10 inches shorter, rose up to knock the shot away.

Mississippi cut it to 68-65 on Flanigan's inside layup with 38 seconds left. It had a final chance after Meechie Johnson's long 3 clanged away, but Murrell's running 3 attempt was way off the mark.

The Rebels lost their second straight and fell for the fifth time in eight games.

South Carolina seemed to answer any concerns about how it would hold up after finally getting ranked by shooting 68% (18 for 29) in the opening half, with seven 3-pointers, to build a 43-31 lead.

THE BIG PICTURE

Mississippi: The Rebels have had a troubling stretch since starting the season 15-1 with losses in four of their seven SEC games, including two straight. Chris Beard's teams in the past have been known for their strong defense, but it did not show up until after the Rebels fell behind by 17 points.

South Carolina: Where does this surprise season for the Gamecocks head next? South Carolina appears headed for its first NCAA Tournament berth in seven years.

UP NEXT

Mississippi: Heads to No. 17 Kentucky on Tuesday.

South Carolina: Hosts Vanderbilt on Saturday.

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1st Half
MISS
Rebels
31
SCAR
Gamecocks
43

Time		Play	Score
20:00		(Rebels gains possession)
19:45		Jaemyn Brakefield misses two point jump shot
19:43		Rebels offensive rebound
19:38	+2	Allen Flanigan makes two point jump shot	2-0
19:24	+2	Zachary Davis makes two point driving layup (Meechie Johnson assists)	2-2
19:11	+2	Matthew Murrell makes two point jump shot (Jaylen Murray assists)	4-2
18:57	+2	Collin Murray-Boyles makes two point layup (Meechie Johnson assists)	4-4
18:37		Jaylen Murray misses three point jump shot
18:35		Gamecocks defensive rebound
18:04	+3	Meechie Johnson makes three point jump shot (Ta'Lon Cooper assists)	4-7
17:45		Moussa Cisse turnover (bad pass)
17:21		B.J. Mack misses two point layup
17:19		Moussa Cisse defensive rebound
16:56	+2	Jaemyn Brakefield makes two point stepback jump shot	6-7
16:25	+2	Collin Murray-Boyles makes two point layup (Meechie Johnson assists)	6-9
16:02	+2	Allen Flanigan makes two point cutting dunk (Jaemyn Brakefield assists)	8-9
15:34	+2	Ta'Lon Cooper makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot	8-11
15:13	+2	Allen Flanigan makes two point jump shot	10-11
14:43		Ta'Lon Cooper misses three point jump shot
14:41		Allen Flanigan defensive rebound
14:33		Allen Flanigan turnover (lost ball) (Zachary Davis steals)
14:14	+3	Zachary Davis makes three point jump shot (Ta'Lon Cooper assists)	10-14
14:04		Jaylen Murray misses two point jump shot
14:02		Collin Murray-Boyles defensive rebound
13:53		Meechie Johnson misses three point jump shot
13:51		Collin Murray-Boyles offensive rebound
13:47	+2	Collin Murray-Boyles makes two point layup	10-16
13:33		Matthew Murrell offensive foul
13:33		Matthew Murrell turnover (offensive foul)
13:33		TV timeout
13:05		Morris Ugusuk misses three point jump shot
13:03		Brandon Murray personal foul
12:50	+3	Myles Stute makes three point jump shot (Jacobi Wright assists)	10-19
12:17	+2	Jaemyn Brakefield makes two point jump shot (Allen Flanigan assists)	12-19
11:49	+3	Myles Stute makes three point jump shot	12-22
11:28		Jaemyn Brakefield turnover (carrying)
11:28		TV timeout
11:19	+3	Jacobi Wright makes three point jump shot (Morris Ugusuk assists)	12-25
11:03	+2	Allen Flanigan makes two point jump shot	14-25
10:48	+2	Morris Ugusuk makes two point cutting layup (Myles Stute assists)	14-27
10:35		Jamarion Sharp offensive foul
10:35		Jamarion Sharp turnover (offensive foul)
10:15		Myles Stute turnover (bad pass) (Allen Flanigan steals)
10:07	+3	Jaylen Murray makes three point jump shot (Moussa Cisse assists)	17-27
9:44	+3	Myles Stute makes three point jump shot (Meechie Johnson assists)	17-30
9:31	+2	Jaylen Murray makes two point jump shot	19-30
9:14		Morris Ugusuk turnover
9:07	+2	Jaylen Murray makes two point jump shot	21-30
8:40		B.J. Mack misses three point jump shot
8:38		TJ Caldwell defensive rebound
8:15	+2	Moussa Cisse makes two point reverse layup (Brandon Murray assists)	23-30
7:54		B.J. Mack misses three point jump shot
7:52		Meechie Johnson offensive rebound
7:44	+3	Ta'Lon Cooper makes three point jump shot (Meechie Johnson assists)	23-33
7:30		Brandon Murray misses two point pullup jump shot
7:28		Ta'Lon Cooper defensive rebound
7:08		Myles Stute turnover (bad pass) (Jaylen Murray steals)
6:45		Ta'Lon Cooper personal foul
6:45		TV timeout
6:38		Matthew Murrell misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot
6:36		Meechie Johnson defensive rebound
6:29	+2	Collin Murray-Boyles makes two point layup (Meechie Johnson assists)	23-35
6:26		Rebels 30 second timeout
6:13		Jaemyn Brakefield misses two point jump shot
6:11		Collin Murray-Boyles defensive rebound
5:56		TJ Caldwell personal foul
5:35		Ta'Lon Cooper misses two point jump shot
5:33		B.J. Mack offensive rebound
5:31	+2	B.J. Mack makes two point layup	23-37
5:20	+2	Jaylen Murray makes two point layup	25-37
5:20		Collin Murray-Boyles shooting foul (Jaylen Murray draws the foul)
5:20	+1	Jaylen Murray makes regular free throw 1 of 1	26-37
4:59		Meechie Johnson misses three point jump shot
4:57		Matthew Murrell defensive rebound
4:54		Collin Murray-Boyles personal foul
4:27		Brandon Murray misses two point jump shot
4:25		Matthew Murrell offensive rebound
4:23		Matthew Murrell misses two point jump shot
4:21		Matthew Murrell offensive rebound
4:21		Rebels turnover (shot clock violation)
4:01		Meechie Johnson turnover (bad pass)
3:46	+2	Allen Flanigan makes two point jump shot	28-37
3:29		B.J. Mack offensive foul
3:29		B.J. Mack turnover (offensive foul)
3:29		TV timeout
3:16		Jaemyn Brakefield turnover (traveling)
2:55	+2	Ta'Lon Cooper makes two point driving layup	28-39
2:38		Jaylen Murray misses three point jump shot
2:36		Zachary Davis defensive rebound
2:36		Jaemyn Brakefield personal foul
2:22	+2	Josh Gray makes two point dunk (Zachary Davis assists)	28-41
2:02	+3	Matthew Murrell makes three point jump shot (Jaemyn Brakefield assists)	31-41
1:42	+2	Meechie Johnson makes two point jump shot	31-43
1:18		Myles Stute blocks Matthew Murrell's two point jump shot
1:16		Myles Stute defensive rebound
0:50		Josh Gray misses two point jump shot
0:48		Jaemyn Brakefield defensive rebound
0:34		Jaemyn Brakefield misses two point layup
0:32		Ta'Lon Cooper defensive rebound
0:25		Gamecocks 30 second timeout
0:05		Meechie Johnson misses three point jump shot
0:03		Jacobi Wright offensive rebound
0:03		Allen Flanigan personal foul
0:02		B.J. Mack misses two point jump shot
0:01		Matthew Murrell defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
MISS
Rebels
34
SCAR
Gamecocks
25

Time		Play	Score
19:46		B.J. Mack misses three point jump shot
19:44		Collin Murray-Boyles offensive rebound
19:41	+2	Collin Murray-Boyles makes two point layup	31-45
19:12		Jaylen Murray misses three point stepback jump shot
19:10		Zachary Davis defensive rebound
18:54	+2	Collin Murray-Boyles makes two point layup	31-47
18:34		B.J. Mack shooting foul (Allen Flanigan draws the foul)
18:34	+1	Allen Flanigan makes regular free throw 1 of 2	32-47
18:34		Allen Flanigan misses regular free throw 2 of 2
18:34		B.J. Mack defensive rebound
18:05		Moussa Cisse blocks B.J. Mack's two point jump shot
18:03		Gamecocks offensive rebound
18:03		Zachary Davis misses three point jump shot
18:02		Gamecocks turnover (shot clock violation)
17:57	+2	Matthew Murrell makes two point jump shot	34-47
17:46	+3	Ta'Lon Cooper makes three point jump shot	34-50
17:26		Allen Flanigan misses two point jump shot
17:24		Ta'Lon Cooper defensive rebound
17:06		Moussa Cisse shooting foul (B.J. Mack draws the foul)
17:06		B.J. Mack misses regular free throw 1 of 2
17:06	+1	B.J. Mack makes regular free throw 2 of 2	34-51
16:48		Matthew Murrell misses two point hook shot
16:46		Moussa Cisse offensive rebound
16:43		Moussa Cisse misses two point layup
16:41		Meechie Johnson defensive rebound
16:34		Ta'Lon Cooper turnover (bad pass) (Matthew Murrell steals)
16:28	+2	Allen Flanigan makes two point dunk (Matthew Murrell assists)	36-51
15:56		Jacobi Wright misses three point jump shot
15:54		Collin Murray-Boyles offensive rebound
15:42	+2	B.J. Mack makes two point layup	36-53
15:27		Jacobi Wright personal foul
15:27		TV timeout
15:23	+3	Matthew Murrell makes three point jump shot (Brandon Murray assists)	39-53
15:01		Collin Murray-Boyles misses two point hook shot
14:59		Jaylen Murray defensive rebound
14:58		Myles Stute personal foul
14:39		Collin Murray-Boyles blocks Jaylen Murray's two point jump shot
14:37		Collin Murray-Boyles defensive rebound
14:17		Jaylen Murray blocks Collin Murray-Boyles's two point jump shot
14:15		Gamecocks offensive rebound
14:12		Jamarion Sharp blocks Josh Gray's two point layup
14:10		Josh Gray offensive rebound
14:06		Jamarion Sharp blocks Josh Gray's two point layup
14:04		Gamecocks turnover (shot clock violation)
13:58		Jaylen Murray turnover (bad pass) (Collin Murray-Boyles steals)
13:55	+2	Collin Murray-Boyles makes two point layup	39-55
13:55		Jaylen Murray shooting foul (Collin Murray-Boyles draws the foul)
13:55		Collin Murray-Boyles misses regular free throw 1 of 1
13:55		Allen Flanigan defensive rebound
13:40	+2	Matthew Murrell makes two point jump shot (Allen Flanigan assists)	41-55
13:17		Jacobi Wright misses three point jump shot
13:15		Jamarion Sharp defensive rebound
13:07		Collin Murray-Boyles shooting foul (Allen Flanigan draws the foul)
13:07	+1	Allen Flanigan makes regular free throw 1 of 2	42-55
13:07	+1	Allen Flanigan makes regular free throw 2 of 2	43-55
12:50		Ta'Lon Cooper misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot
12:48		Matthew Murrell defensive rebound
12:38		Myles Stute shooting foul (Allen Flanigan draws the foul)
12:38	+1	Allen Flanigan makes regular free throw 1 of 2	44-55
12:38		Allen Flanigan misses regular free throw 2 of 2
12:38		Josh Gray defensive rebound
12:10	+2	Josh Gray makes two point layup (Meechie Johnson assists)	44-57
11:54	+2	Allen Flanigan makes two point layup (Matthew Murrell assists)	46-57
11:23		Zachary Davis misses three point jump shot
11:21		Matthew Murrell defensive rebound
11:13		Matthew Murrell misses three point jump shot
11:11		Matthew Murrell offensive rebound
11:05	+2	Allen Flanigan makes two point pullup jump shot	48-57
10:31	+2	Morris Ugusuk makes two point jump shot	48-59
10:22		Josh Gray personal foul
10:22		TV timeout
10:10	+2	Jamarion Sharp makes two point layup (Brandon Murray assists)	50-59
9:47		Morris Ugusuk misses three point jump shot
9:45		Austin Nunez defensive rebound
9:22	+2	Jamarion Sharp makes two point dunk (Brandon Murray assists)	52-59
9:02		B.J. Mack misses three point jump shot
9:00		Allen Flanigan defensive rebound
8:53	+2	Allen Flanigan makes two point jump shot	54-59
8:35		Myles Stute misses three point jump shot
8:33		Gamecocks offensive rebound
8:30	+2	Ta'Lon Cooper makes two point layup (Collin Murray-Boyles assists)	54-61
8:17		Brandon Murray misses two point layup
8:15		Jamarion Sharp offensive rebound
8:12	+2	Jamarion Sharp makes two point layup	56-61
7:44		Ta'Lon Cooper misses two point reverse layup
7:42		Matthew Murrell defensive rebound
7:35	+2	Allen Flanigan makes two point jump shot	58-61
7:16		Matthew Murrell shooting foul (B.J. Mack draws the foul)
7:16		TV timeout
7:16	+1	B.J. Mack makes regular free throw 1 of 2	58-62
7:16		B.J. Mack misses regular free throw 2 of 2
7:16		Allen Flanigan defensive rebound
7:04	+2	Matthew Murrell makes two point jump shot	60-62
6:52		Jamarion Sharp personal foul
6:35	+3	Myles Stute makes three point jump shot (Meechie Johnson assists)	60-65
6:03		Allen Flanigan misses two point pullup jump shot
6:01		Meechie Johnson defensive rebound
5:53		Matthew Murrell shooting foul (Meechie Johnson draws the foul)
5:53		Meechie Johnson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:53	+1	Meechie Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	60-66
5:42	+3	Matthew Murrell makes three point jump shot (Brandon Murray assists)	63-66
5:17		Collin Murray-Boyles misses two point driving layup
5:15		Brandon Murray defensive rebound
5:10		Allen Flanigan misses two point driving layup
5:08		Josh Gray defensive rebound
4:55		Ta'Lon Cooper misses three point jump shot
4:53		Rebels defensive rebound
4:40		Jamarion Sharp misses two point jump shot
4:38		Collin Murray-Boyles defensive rebound
4:18		Meechie Johnson misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot
4:16		Allen Flanigan defensive rebound
4:11		Austin Nunez misses three point jump shot
4:09		Meechie Johnson defensive rebound
3:47	+2	Collin Murray-Boyles makes two point layup (Josh Gray assists)	63-68
3:38		Rebels 30 second timeout
3:38		TV timeout
3:24		Allen Flanigan misses two point jump shot
3:22		Collin Murray-Boyles defensive rebound
3:05		Ta'Lon Cooper turnover (bad pass)
3:04		TV timeout
2:50		Brandon Murray misses two point layup
2:48		Brandon Murray offensive rebound
2:45		Brandon Murray misses two point layup
2:43		B.J. Mack defensive rebound
2:24		B.J. Mack turnover (lost ball) (Matthew Murrell steals)
2:16		Allen Flanigan turnover (lost ball) (Meechie Johnson steals)
1:49		Meechie Johnson misses three point jump shot
1:47		Allen Flanigan defensive rebound
1:32		Rebels 30 second timeout
1:23		Collin Murray-Boyles blocks Jamarion Sharp's two point dunk
1:21		Collin Murray-Boyles defensive rebound
0:55		Jamarion Sharp blocks Meechie Johnson's two point driving layup
0:53		Brandon Murray defensive rebound
0:39	+2	Allen Flanigan makes two point jump shot	65-68
0:38		Rebels 60 second timeout
0:28		Gamecocks 60 second timeout
0:09		Meechie Johnson misses three point jump shot
0:07		Matthew Murrell defensive rebound
0:04		Matthew Murrell misses three point jump shot
0:02		Ta'Lon Cooper defensive rebound
0:01		Matthew Murrell personal foul
0:00		End of period

Matthew Murrell personal foul