South Carolina (10-4, 0-1 SEC) dropped their conference opener on the road to Mississippi State (6-7, 1-0 SEC) 56-54. Junior guard Brian Richardson netted 20 points on seven made shots and five made 3s, all career highs. Richardson also led the Gamecocks in rebounding, coming down with a game-high eight. Junior guard Bruce Ellington also reached double figures for South Carolina, tallying 11. Junior guard Eric Smith added five assists. The Gamecocks out-rebounded the Bulldogs 38-29.
