COLUMBIA, S.C. – Auburn’s DeYona Gaston topped the 30-point mark for the fourth time this season, but the Tigers came up short in a hard-fought battle with No. 2 South Carolina, falling 83-66 Sunday afternoon.
With a 31-point performance, Gaston became the first player in Auburn history with four 30-point games in the same season, and it was the most points scored against South Carolina by an opposing player this year.
“The whole team came in and played hard,” Auburn head coach Johnnie Harris said. “We just have to eliminate the mistakes. And then when we go to the bench, our bench has to be better.
“Every time they made a run, we came back, we settled down. Our kids were together, they played tough, but South Carolina’s really good. You can’t take anything from them. You get better by coming in and grinding, and embracing the opportunities. We hung in as long as we could, then started making some mistakes that cost us.”
Gaston was 14-of-22 from the floor and also pulled down four rebounds along with a pair of steals.
“DeYona is a hard matchup,” Harris said. “She came in ready to play. Our kids got her the ball in places where she can score.”
She led four players in double-figures as Celia Sumbane knocked down three 3-pointers to finish with 11 points, Yuting Deng had 10 points in her first road game, and Mar’Shaun Bostic just missed a double-double with 10 points and nine assists.
“Celia played really well for us,” Harris said. “Yuting got a couple of baskets, but we’re still trying to get her to understand our defense. Those kids all stepped up. And even though the numbers don’t show it, Taylen Collins was really good. She guards the other team’s best player, and she was able to switch off on guards and posts. That helped us a lot.”
Auburn had its best shooting day in SEC play at exactly 50 percent (25-of-50) and hit 5-of-11 3-point tries (45.5%). But the Gamecocks bested that, hitting 57.1 percent of their shots (32-56).
Turnovers and bench play proved to be the difference. Auburn turned the ball over 23 times, leading to 25 Carolina points, and the Gamecock bench scored 39 points. Carolina also scored 26 fast-break points, the most by an Auburn opponent this season.
“It was depth, it was our turnovers, it was their fast break points, which is part of our depth,” Harris said. “They took advantage of it, especially in the second half.”
The teams traded blows through the first 15 minutes. Auburn shot 60 percent in the first quarter but saw the Gamecocks better that at 68 percent; Carolina led 23-18 after 10 minutes.
Auburn stayed with the Gamecocks shot-for-shot to start the second period and tied the game 27-all on a Sumbane 3-pointer with 5:29 to play in the half. But from there, the Tigers made just one shot the rest of the quarter as Carolina ended the half on a 13-3 run to take a 40-30 lead at the break.
Both teams shot 50 percent or better in the first half, but Auburn’s possessions were limited by 14 first-half turnovers, leading to 16 Gamecock points.
A 3-pointer from Sumbane and back-to-back buckets from Gaston cut the 10-point deficit to just three at 42-39 just two minutes into the third quarter, and it was just a five-point game with 4:19 to play. But Carolina ended the period on a 11-3 run to lead 62-49 after three, and Auburn could not cut the deficit to single digits from there.
Freshman Joyce Edwards led four Gamecocks in double figures with 18 points; MiLaysia Fulwiley added 17.
Auburn is back home Thursday night, Feb. 6, to take on Texas A&M. Game time is 6 p.m. at Neville Arena. Thursday’s game is the annual Black History Month celebration, and limited edition trading cards of Auburn greats will be available to fans while supplies last.