Trends Of The Game: No. 15 South Carolina Vs. Ole Miss

South Carolina's men's basketball team relied on their core tenants and everyone who stepped on the floor to defeat the Ole Miss Rebels.

In a game that was the textbook definition of a rollercoaster ride, Lamont Paris and the South Carolina Gamecocks found a way to make enough plays when they mattered to thwart off a ferocious second-half comeback attempt from the Ole Miss Rebels. Fans were treated to some of the things that the Gamecocks have become known for under their leader and also saw some rotational players leave their imprint on the game.

What were some the consistent trends we witnessed tonight?

Hanging Their Hat On Defense

We'll start with how the Gamecocks won this game, the backbone of Lamont Paris' program: making opponents' lives miserable offensively. By the 7:03 mark in the second half, Ole Miss had gotten to within striking distance of South Carolina, cutting the Gamecocks lead down to just two points and leaving the Garnet Black faithful in their white attire in disbelief.

Just when things seemed to be slipping away, however, Lamont's squad did what they do best: anchor down on the defensive end. The Rebels made just two of their final ten shots over the final seven minutes of regulation, with one of those misses coming via a Collin Murray-Boyles block that would've made the Monstars from Space Jam shutter in fear.

BIG-TIME REJECTION AT THE RIM 😤@GamecockMBB x 📺 @SECNetwork pic.twitter.com/AGD0ur7hsm

— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) February 7, 2024

Force Them Off The Perimeter

The Rebels came into tonight's game averaging 20.1 three-point attempts per game, with three of their players having taken 68 or more shots from behind the arc. Lamont Paris explained in his postgame presser that one of his primary defensive philosophies revolves around 'discouraging' the opponent from taking a three-point shot.

Paris' strategy worked well tonight, as Ole Miss took just ten shots from deep which, whether planned or not, worked in the favor of Carolina.

Meechie Johnson working to recover against the driving Rebel guard Austin Nunez (6th Feb., 2024) / Jeff Blake | USA Today Network

Valuable Bench Production

It cannot be overstated how this team has evolved over the season in terms of having more guys they can rely on to step onto the floor and maintain a high level of play. Myles Stute came off the bench and hit four three-pointers that either increased the Gamecocks' lead or slammed the door shut on a mini-Rebel run. Morris Ugusuk continues to come along, while Jacobi Wright and Josh Gray provided veteran presence in a game where South Carolina needed it.

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