Not playing well prior to a trip to Auburn, Ala. last Sat. (1/9), the Gamecocks of South Carolina were challenged with positively changing the course of their recent plunge, during a Southeastern Conference (SEC) opener against the Auburn Tigers.

And although it wasn’t an easy task triumphing over the host Tigers, at Beard-Eaves Coliseum, the Gamecocks apparently met the before game demand for better play, in the wake of an 80-71 win over AU.

Scoring 17 points in second half play, senior guard Devan Downey, who finished with 33, led the scoring parade for USC-East, which improved its record to 10-5, 1-0 SEC.

Downey got help from center Sam Muldrow (12) and Brandis Raley-Ross, who tossed in 11.

Senior point guard Dewayne Reed led the Tigers with 19 points while Richland-Northeast High School product Lucas Hargrove sank 11 for Auburn.
In falling to the Gamecocks, the AU Tigers mark dipped to 9-7,0-1