Kotsar, South Carolina dismantle Missouri 76-54 on Saturday

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Maik Kotsar had a season-high 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead South Carolina to a 76-54 victory over Missouri on Saturday.

The Gamecocks (13-8, 5-3 SEC) won for the fifth time in their past six league games after starting Southeastern Conference play 0-2.

The 6-foot-10 senior Kotsar was unstoppable at both ends of the floor for South Carolina. He made his first seven shots and had eight defensive boards in the opening half as the Gamecocks built a double-digit lead.

Kotsar also had four of South Carolina’s nine blocks — the team’s best showing in SEC play this season.

Missouri (10-11, 2-6), which rallied from 20 points down to beat Georgia last Thursday, cut a 16-point lead to 52-43 with 11 minutes left. But Kotsar hit two free throws and a short jumper to start a 9-0 run and restore the Gamecocks’ comfortable margin.

It was Kotsar’s second double-double this season and fourth of his career.

Jermaine Couisnard finished with 15 points and AJ Lawson 13 off three 3-pointers for South Carolina.

Xavier Pinson had three of Missouri’s four 3-pointers and led the Tigers with 12 points.

Missouri has lost five of its past six games.

South Carolina has played strong defense during its recent run and that continued against Missouri.

The Gamecocks held the Tigers to 1-of-10 shooting on the way to an 11-3 start. Things only got worse for Missouri after that.

South Carolina scored on five of six possessions in the opening period to stretch things to 30-15 on T.J. Moss‘ 3-pointer.

The Gamecocks forced nine turnovers and had eight blocks the first 20 minutes. Kotsar was a huge part of South Carolina’s defense with eight defensive rebounds, four blocks and a steal in his 10 minutes.

The Tigers were without second- and third-leading scorers Mark Smith and Jeremiah Tilmon for this one. Smith came out in the second half of Missouri’s last game with lower back issues and was out of the lineup at South Carolina.

Tilmon has missed the past eight games with a stress fracture in his left foot.

THE BIG PICTURE

Missouri: The Tigers will struggle without the firepower of juniors Smith and Tilmon in the rotation. The two have combined for nearly 20 points and nine rebounds a game this season.

South Carolina: The Gamecocks are surging at the right time in order to make a run in the SEC. They have several winnable games this month and any hope of getting to the NCAA Tournament rests on them following a winning January with a more successful February.

UP NEXT

Missouri goes to Texas A&M on Tuesday night.

South Carolina plays at Ole Miss on Wednesday night.