In a stunning display of talent and determination, Jermaine Couisnard lit up the court against his former team, leading Oregon to an impressive 87-73 victory over South Carolina in the NCAA Tournament’s Midwest Region opener. Couisnard, who transferred from South Carolina following the 2022 season, delivered a career-best performance, amassing an incredible 40 points for the 11th-seeded Ducks.
Fueling Oregon’s success, Couisnard showcased his sharpshooting prowess with five successful 3-pointers and an impressive 14-of-22 shooting from the field. Alongside him, Oregon’s center N’Faly Dante contributed 23 points, further solidifying the Ducks’ dominance on the court.
Despite the Gamecocks’ efforts, including commendable performances from Meechie Johnson with 24 points and Cooper with 15, Oregon maintained control throughout the game. Whenever South Carolina attempted to mount a comeback, the Ducks had an answer, whether through Couisnard’s scoring barrage or Dante’s commanding presence in the paint.
Oregon’s victory sets up an intriguing matchup against No. 3 seed Creighton in the second round, following Creighton’s 77-60 triumph over Akron. With their remarkable performance in the Pac-12 tournament and now in the NCAA tournament, the Ducks are proving themselves as formidable contenders on the national stage.
Key Performances and Milestones in Carolina’s Season Finale Victory
- Junior guard Meechie Johnson led Carolina in scoring with 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range. He also contributed three rebounds and three assists. This marked his 22nd game of the season scoring in double figures and his 10th game with 20 or more points.
- Junior guard Myles Stute led Carolina in rebounding with eight rebounds, marking the third game this season he’s topped the team in rebounds.
- Graduate guard Ta’Lon Cooper led the Gamecocks in assists for the 21st time this season, recording a game-high seven assists with just one turnover. Cooper ranked 10th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio, boasting 23 games this season with one or no turnovers.
- Three Gamecocks scored in double figures: Johnson with 24 points, Cooper with 15 points, and B.J. Mack with 13 points.
- Carolina shot 45.8 percent from beyond the arc, making 11 three-pointers as a team.
- The Garnet & Black concluded the season with a total of 26 wins, tying the record for the most wins in a single season in program history, previously achieved by the 2016-17 Final Four team.
