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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) -- Auburn coach Cliff Ellis knows who to blame
for the bald spot on the back of his head -- his fourth-ranked
Tigers.
Auburn blew a 16-point, second-half lead Wednesday night and needed two free throws from Mamadou N'diaye with 49 seconds to play to hang on for a 65-61 victory over South Carolina.
It was the 14th straight win for the Tigers (16-1, 4-0
Southeastern Conference) and the last three have come down to the
final minute.
"I'm from the old school, as you can tell by my hair," Ellis
said, leaning over to show his bald spot. "We've got to start
valuing the ball instead of going for the spectacular play."
The Tigers blew a 14-point lead against Kentucky last week, then needed a 3-pointer from Doc Robinson with 24 seconds to play for a 66-63 win. Against Mississippi State on Sunday, they needed a
3-pointer from Chris Porter with 25 seconds to play to seal a 51-45
win.
It was no different against South Carolina, as Ellis watched the Gamecocks come back from 52-38 deficit with 11:26 to play.
Ellis chalked it up to Auburn trying to get too fancy when it
has a big lead, thus allowing opponents to pull back into the game.
"Kids today go for the spectacular play -- I'd rather you catch the ball and put it back in -- but that's what draws the cameras and makes the news," Ellis said. "Every time they do that, we miss,
they go down the other end and hit a 3, and that's a five-point
swing. And I lose some more hair."
South Carolina (9-8, 1-3), which lost 64-48 to Kentucky on
Saturday, used a 23-6 run to take a 61-60 lead with 1:14 to play.
But Auburn made five of six free throws over the final 49
seconds to clinch it, handing the Gamecocks their third straight
loss.
"We get the best shot from everyone we play this year," said
Scott Pohlman, who led Auburn with 19 points. "I don't think we
mean to do it, to have to win at the end of the game, but we're
getting everyone's best shot."
The Gamecocks, who led most of the first half and by as many as seven points, took their first lead of the second half, 61-60, on
Chuck Eidson's layup with 1:14 to play.
Robinson missed at the other end, but N'diaye got the rebound and was fouled by Tony Kitchings as he tried to tip it in. The
7-foot center, who had missed two free throws 39 seconds before,
hit them both to give Auburn a 62-61 lead.
The roles were reversed at the other end when N'diaye fouled Kitchings on a layup attempt, but Kitchings missed both shots.
Daymeon Fishback got the rebound off the miss and was able to pass it off to Pohlman, Auburn's best free throw shooter at 71.4
percent. He was fouled by Eidson, but made just one free throw to
give the Tigers a 63-61 lead with 23 seconds to play.
The Gamecocks, playing for the win, came up short when Antonio Grant missed a long 3-point attempt with seven seconds to play. Fishback again got the rebound, was fouled, and made both free
throws.
"I wanted to get the 3 and the win in regulation," South
Carolina coach Eddie Fogler said. "We wanted to beat the No. 4
team in the country on their court and not have to go into
overtime. I take full responsibility for that, it was my call."
South Carolina took No. 6 Syracuse into overtime at home last week, only to lose 77-74.
The Gamecocks were led by Eidson, a freshman, who scored a career-high 24 points. He scored 16 in South Carolina's 23-6 run that pulled the Gamecocks back into it.
"I just had a few opportunities," Eidson said. "Coach just
called my number and I was able to make the open shot."
Trailing 54-40 with 10:20 to play, Eidson made two layups, a
3-pointer, and drew Porter's fifth foul on a driving layup with
6:38 to play. Porter, who played only 16 minutes because of foul
trouble, finished with six points.
"Chris Porter was no factor at all tonight," Ellis said. "So
I'm really, truly proud of our team pulling this one out."
Pohlman made four of Auburn's season-high 13 3-pointers.
Robinson added 12 points.
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
South Carolina Clubhouse
Auburn Clubhouse
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