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Gamecocks get healthier in time to face Army

University of South Carolina Head Coach Frank Martin during the first half at Littlejohn Coliseum Saturday, Dec 18, 2021.

Clemson Vs South Carolina Mbb

After losing to in-state rival Clemson, South Carolina could get healthier and shore up its lineup Wednesday afternoon against Army in Columbia, S.C.

Depending on how testing situation goes Tuesday night, head coach Frank Martin said his squad could get two players out of COVID protocol for the nonconference game.

The Gamecocks (8-3) were without James Reese, Wildens Leveque, Josh Gray and Devin Carter due to COVID issues against Clemson, leaving Martin’s group to play shorthanded in the 70-56 loss.

“Those two are working out individually and will not practice today or tomorrow, but there’s a chance they might play on Wednesday,” Martin said Monday without naming the two players.

Chico Carter Jr. came off the bench to score 21 points for the Gamecocks, the most since he transferred in from Murray State. Jermaine Couisnard (ankle) had missed three of the previous four games but played 24 minutes against Clemson, scoring five points.

With AJ Wilson (right knee sprain) out for 2-3 weeks, Keyshawn Bryant has slotted into the power forward spot.

Following the Army game, the Gamecocks’ face South Carolina State Dec. 29 in their final nonconference game before Southeastern Conference action opens in January.

Army (6-5) had won two in a row before being routed Sunday by Long Island University 90-65.

The Black Knights led 11-10 after Jalen Rucker’s three-pointer, but LIU embarked on a 22-5 run and led 56-33 at halftime.

“Full credit to LIU,” Army coach Jimmy Allen said. “They played very well and shot the ball well. We didn’t respond the way we needed to when we fell in a hole.”

It was a hole the Patriot League team could not extricate itself from — trailing by 32 points early in the second half.

Army’s Josh Caldwell produced a team-best 11 points in posting his second successive game in double figures.

Kwabena Davis put in a season-high 10 points and AJ Allenspach notched career-bests with 10 rebounds and seven points.

Rucker leads Army with 15 points per game, and Caldwell — who will be returning to his South Carolina hometown — contributes 12.3.

The Black Knights open their Patriot League schedule on New Year’s Day when they host Loyola Maryland.

–Field Level Media

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