Kotsar Shines in Gameocks 74-65 Win Over George Washington

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Maik Kotsar continued his strong stretch with 17 points, nine rebounds and two blocks as South Carolina (5-3) broke a two-game losing streak with a 74-65 win over George Washington on Sunday.

The Gamecocks’ power forward, a four-year starter, has been the only constant through a stretch of three losses in four games, and with leading scorer AJ Lawson turnover-prone on Sunday, South Carolina needed him to be as productive. Kotsar used his size and tender hook shot to whip the Colonials’ undersized interior as the Gamecocks improved to 5-3.

George Washington (3-5) scored the game’s first basket off a Lawson turnover, but South Carolina scored the next 17 points. The Colonials never went away, forward Jamison Battle splashing six 3-pointers, but the Gamecocks could always go back inside. Kotsar only missed one of his nine field-goal attempts, flushing a fast-break dunk with less than 30 seconds to play as the Gamecocks salted it.

It was a career-best fifth straight game in double figures for Kotsar.

Lawson had 14 points, while point guard Jair Bolden and Jermaine Couisnard each had 12.

KEY STATS
> The Gamecocks shot 53 percent (30-for-57) from the floor on Sunday with a 42-28 points in the paint advantage.
> Carolina was plus-14 on the glass, 46-32.

NOTABLES
> Senior Maik Kotsar scored in double figures for the fifth straight game, finishing with 17 points. It’s the first time the Tallinn, Estonia, native, has accomplished the feat. He was one rebound shy of his first double-double of the 2019-20 season.
> Kotsar notched season-highs for minutes (38) and made field goals (8) against the Colonials.
> Sophomore AJ Lawson tallied 14 points for his sixth double-figure outing of the season.
> Redshirt junior Jair Bolden and redshirt sophomore Jermaine Cousinard each had 12 points. Cousinard scored 10 of his 12 in the second half.

UP NEXT
The Gamecocks are back on the road following today’s win, heading to face UMass (5-3) in Amherst on Wednesday night. That nonconference matchup will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network with Tom McCarthy (play-by-play) and Chris Walker (analyst) on the call.