FORT MYERS, Fla. — On Wednesday evening, Collin Murray-Boyles showcased his skills by contributing 16 points and grabbing eight rebounds, guiding South Carolina to a 70-60 victory over Virginia Tech in the third-place matchup of the Beach Division at the Fort Myers Tip-Off.

Zachary Davis and Morris Ugusuk were pivotal for the Gamecocks, each adding 12 points to the team’s total (now 4-3 for the season). For the Hokies, who fell to 3-4, Jaydon Young and Jaden Schutt each scored 12 points, while Tobi Lawal and Brandon Rechsteiner chipped in with 10 points apiece.

In a competitive second half, Virginia Tech made a strong push as six of their first eleven baskets were from beyond the arc, narrowing South Carolina’s lead, which had been eight points at halftime. With 5 1/2 minutes remaining, South Carolina was ahead 57-53 but managed to keep the Hokies from scoring for the next 4 1/2 minutes.

By the one-minute mark, South Carolina expanded their lead to 62-53, and a pivotal three-point play by Murray-Boyles with 49 seconds left effectively sealed the game. At that stage, they were leading 65-55, and the Gamecocks closed out the game by successfully making 5 of their 6 free throws.

The first half saw South Carolina hold a narrow lead of 10-9 about six minutes into play before they surged ahead by scoring 10 out of the next 11 points, giving them a 20-10 advantage. The Hokies responded with a three-pointer from Ben Burnham, narrowing the gap to five points, but the Gamecocks capitalized on their scoring opportunities, making three of their last four shots and leading 33-25 at halftime.