Southeastern Conference Tournament Recaps

Atlanta, GA (SportsNetwork.com) – Duane Notice scored a career-high 23 points to lead the South Carolina Gamecocks past the Auburn Tigers, 74-56, in the first round of the SEC Tournament at the Georgia Dome.

Notice knocked down all four of his 3-point attempts and added eight rebounds for 13th-seeded South Carolina (13-19), which will play Arkansas in the second round on Thursday. Brenton Williams also drained four 3-pointers on his way to 16 points, Laimonas Chatkevicius logged 11 points and nine rebounds, Sindarius Thornwell netted 10 and Mindaugas Kacinas rounded out the balanced effort with eight points and 10 boards.

For 12th-seeded Auburn (13-19), Chris Denson and KT Harrell scored 14 and 13 points, respectively.

South Carolina carried a comfortable 38-26 lead into the halftime locker room by shooting 46.2 percent from the field in the first half, including 7-of-11 from beyond the arc. Auburn made good on only 36.4 percent of its tries from the floor in the first half.

The Gamecocks’ advantage never dipped below double digits in the second half, as they shot 13-of-15 at the foul line over the final 20 minutes to keep Auburn at bay.

South Carolina earned a decisive advantage in the rebounding battle, 39-25.

Final Score: Mississippi State 82, Vanderbilt 68

Atlanta, GA (SportsNetwork.com) – Craig Sword scored 20 points to lead the Mississippi State Bulldogs to an 82-68 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores in the first round of the SEC Tournament at the Georgia Dome.

Roquez Johnson netted 18 points and Fred Thomas added on 16 for 14th-seed MSU (14-18), which advances to take on sixth-seed Ole Miss in the second round. Gavin Ware contributed 11 points as well.

Damian Jones tallied 16 points for 11th-seed Vanderbilt (15-16). Dai-Jon Parker and Rod Odom had 15 points apiece and Kyle Fuller tacked on 11.

MSU shot well from beginning to end. It connected on 60.9 percent from the floor in the first half, claiming a 36-31 lead at the break, and then netted 58.1 percent in the final 20 minutes.

Vanderbilt remained within striking distance in the first period, shooting 48 percent from the field, but it fell to 41.9 percent shooting during the final frame.

The Bulldogs had a 33-25 advantage on the glass and assisted on 21 of 32 made field goals.

Categorized in: NCAA Basketball