COLUMBIA, S.C. — In a strong performance, Jamarii Thomas led the South Carolina Gamecocks to an 84-72 win over Mercer on Thursday night, finishing with 19 points. Zachary Davis contributed significantly as well, adding 18 points to the team’s total.

Thomas showcased his shooting skills, making 5 of his 10 attempts from the field, including 4 of 5 from beyond the arc, and he also converted 5 of 8 from the free-throw line. Alongside his scoring, he registered three steals. Meanwhile, Davis successfully hit 7 of 12 shots, including two 3-pointers, and collected five rebounds in the process.

Collin Murray-Boyles had a solid outing for South Carolina, scoring 16 points and narrowly missing a double-double by falling just short of a rebound. Jacobi Wright also contributed 11 points to the victory.

On the Mercer side, Tyler Johnson led the Bears with 15 points, hitting four 3-pointers. Alex Holt and Angel Montas Jr. both chipped in with 14 points, while Ahmad Robinson contributed 13 points and dished out eight assists before fouling out of the game. Off the bench, TJ Grant grabbed 10 rebounds, helping Mercer stay competitive.

The first half saw Thomas and Davis each score seven points, helping South Carolina take a slight 36-32 lead into halftime. Mercer’s Cam Bryant was pivotal in keeping the game close, scoring all nine of his points in the first half while Johnson added seven points of his own. A notable difference in the first half was that the Gamecocks managed to convert 5 of 9 free throws, while Mercer did not take any attempts from the line.

As the second half commenced, South Carolina maintained their lead until Robinson executed a pivotal 3-pointer, giving Mercer a 60-59 advantage with 10:47 left on the clock. However, South Carolina quickly regained the lead, and a 3-pointer from Myles Stute expanded their advantage to 70-62 with 7:45 remaining. A dunk from Murray-Boyles further increased their lead to double digits with only 3:39 to go, allowing South Carolina to control the game as they neared the final buzzer.

This matchup marked the first meeting between these two teams since December 30, 2001, during Dave Odom’s inaugural season as South Carolina’s head coach. The Gamecocks will next face Xavier in the Fort Myers Tip-Off on Monday, looking to build on their successful win against Mercer.