Holmes leads Gamecocks to impressive win

PEZINOK, Slovakia -- The University of South Carolina men's basketball team scored a 99-84 victory against Pezinok Basketball Klub on Sunday in Pezinok, Slovakia. Pezinok is the two-time defending national champion of Slovakia and defeated the University of Tennessee last year 103-98 when the Volunteers took the same tour the Gamecocks are currently taking.

South Carolina came out of the gates quickly for the second consecutive night, taking its largest lead of the first quarter at 18-6 before finishing with a 28-20 advantage heading to the second. Pezinok and Carolina battled to a 26-26 stalemate in the second quarter to make it 54-46 at the half.

A slow start by the Gamecocks allowed the Slovaks to creep back into the contest in the third quarter. A free throw by Pezinok with 1:54 to go tied the score at 66-all before Pezinok took its first and only lead of the night 70-68 with 56 seconds remaining.

South Carolina wasted no time responding, using a quick 5-0 spurt to lead 73-70 going into the fourth quarter. Branden Conrad retook the lead for the Gamecocks with a 3-pointer and after a Pezinok turnover on the ensuing possession, Zam Fredrick hit a circus layup in the lane before time expired.

The final quarter belonged to the Gamecocks. Mike Holmes was dominant, going a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor during the 10-minute period after being held scoreless in the third. During the quarter, he recorded two dunks that drew rave reviews from the Pezinok fans.

Holmes finished with a stellar evening, posting 27 points and 13 rebounds while shooting 13-of-19 from the field. Fredrick tallied 19 points and was 4-of-9 from beyond the arc, and Brandis Raley-Ross tallied 18 and added five rebounds. Devan Downey also reached double figures with 13 while collecting seven boards. Conrad had nine points and missed just one of his four attempts from 3-point land.

Carolina shot 51.9 percent (41-of-79) from the field and made 10-of-25 (40 percent) from 3-point range.

South Carolina will take a tour of Bratislava, Slovakia, in the morning before hopping on the bus for its third game in as many days later in the evening. Be sure to keep checking GamecocksOnline.com for more updates, videos and photos.


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