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Downey held scoreless in his debut
Former USC standout and Chester High graduate Devan Downey made his debut in the NBA Summer League last night. He’s playing on the Sacramento Kings squad in Las Vegas.
Downey played the final four minutes of the game and didn’t score. He missed his only shot and finished with one rebound, two assist and a pair of fouls.
The Kings won the game 97-68 over the Pistons.
Tonight Downey and the Kings will face the Lakers.
Horn and Downey stand for alma mater on Senior Night
Despite scoring the game’s first 11 points, USC was unable hold on to the lead in the second half and fell to Alabama 79-70 Wednesday night on Senior Night at the Colonial Life Arena. The Gamecocks led 55-48 with 11:43 to play after a dunk by Ramon Galloway. The Crimson Tide pulled within three at 57-54, and then USC proceeded to miss six consecutive free throws. That opened the door for Alabama which tied the game at 59 and took the lead for good at 65-64 with 4:29 to play.
AUDIO: Darrin Horn
Devan Downey
The loss spoiled the night for Gamecock senior guard Devan Downey who finished with 23 points, 5 assists and 3 steals. Those steals made him USC’s alltime leader in that category.
AUDIO: Devan Downey
Ramon Galloway
Ramon Galloway came off the bench to give the Gamecocks an offensive spark with a career high 21 points. Galloway was 8-12 from the floor including 4-8 from three point range.
AUDIO: Ramon Galloway
USC can point to the foul line and the backboards for reasons for the loss. The Gamecocks were only 8-17 at the line and were outrebounded 49-26.
USC is now 14-15 overall and 5-10 in the SEC. The Gamecocks have lost six in a row and will close out the regular season Saturday at Vanderbilt. Alabama improves to 15-14 and 5-10.
Darrin Horn
USC used a 46 point second half to defeat Florida Wednesday night in Columbia 77-71. The Gamecocks trailed 35-31 at halftime as the Gators shot 68% from the floor over the first 20 minutes. But Florida fell victim to poor ball handling and poor free throw shooting in losing to the Gamecocks at the Colonial Life Arena for the second year in a row. The Gators finished with a season high 20 turnovers and were just 10-23 from the foul line. The Gamecocks were 19-24 from stripe and turned it over a season low matching six times. Ramon Galloway’s three pointer with 6:28 to play broke a 53-53 tie and started the Gamecocks on a 14-6 run as they built an 11 point lead with :49 left.
AUDIO: Darrin Horn
Devan Downey
Devan Downey led the Gamecocks with 24 points, a season low for him in SEC games. He was just 6-18 from the floor and 1-6 on three pointers. But he was 11-12 from the line including nine of ten over the final two minutes. Despite playing on a bum ankle, Downey logged 34 minutes. He also contributed four steals and two assists.
AUDIO: Devan Downey
Downey will continue to wear a boot on his injured ankle for precautionary reasons. Johndre Jefferson suffered a sprained ankle in the game and will be be further evaluated Thursday.
Brandis Raley-Ross matched his career high with 20 points and hit three big three pointers in the second has as the Gamecocks turned a seven point deficit into an 11 point lead.
AUDIO: Brandis Raley-Ross
Sam Muldrow added 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists for the Gamecocks. Erving Walker led the Gators with 20 points.
USC improves to 14-9 overall and 5-4 in the SEC and will play Saturday at Georgia. Florida drops to 17-7 and 6-4 in the league. The Gators step out of the league to take on Xavier in Gainesville Saturday.
USC star guard Devan Downey suffered an ankle injury in practice Monday night and was in a walking boot Tuesday afternoon. USC spokesperson Emily Feeney said Downey rolled his ankle after taking a shot. Feeney said he was put in the walking boot for precautionary reasons but is expected to play tomorrow night against Florida. Downey did not practice on Tuesday. Downey is the SEC’s leading scorer at 23 points per game.
Fox loses 1st game vs USC
USC defeated Georgia Saturday night in Columbia 78-77 for its second straight SEC victory. The Gamecocks trailed 38-36 at halftime and were down by nine with 9:25 to play. Devan Downey put the Gamecocks up 78-77 on a jumper with :50 to play. That would be the final scoring in the game. The Bulldogs had a chance to take the lead with 3.2 seconds to play but Dustin Ware, an 83% free throw shooter, missed the front end of a one and one. In somewhat of a puzzling move, Georgia coach Mark Fox did not put his other players around the lane, so there was no Bulldog to contest the rebound.
AUDIO: Mark Fox
Two straight SEC wins for Horn
Gamecock guard Ramon Galloway gathered in the loose ball off the floor and was fouled, just the sixth against Georgia. Galloway was again fouled on the inbounds play and missed the free throw with .2 left to play. The clock expired on the rebound recovery.
AUDIO: Darrin Horn
Downey amazing again
Devan Downey once again led the Gamecocks with 33 points. Downey was 12-20 from the floor, 4-7 on threes, and 5-5 at the line. Downey has scored at least 29 points in each SEC game this season.
AUDIO: Devan Downey
Sam Muldrow recorded his first career double-double with a career high 19 points and 11 rebounds. Muldrow also had four blocks. The Gamecocks shot 51.8% from the floor for the game, 62.5% in the second half. USC is now 13-8 overall and 4-3 in the SEC. Georgia falls to 9-10 and 1-5 in the league. The Gamecocks are off until next Saturday when they play at Tennessee.
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