COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Robert Covington scored 16 points and Jordan Cyphers came off the bench to add 12 to lead Tennessee State past South Carolina 64-63 Sunday night, its first victory in 24 tries against a Southeastern Conference team.
South Carolina (1-2), which trailed by 22 with 14:49 remaining, had a chance to force overtime on two R.J. Slawson free throws with 7.5 seconds remaining, but the 78 percent free-throw shooter missed the second.
The Gamecocks fouled and Covington missed the front-end of a one-and-one. South Carolina couldn’t get a shot off as Will Peters and Patrick Miller stripped the ball away at midcourt.
The only previous win for the Tigers (2-2) came against Fisk, an NAIA team, and they lost their opener to Saint Louis by 34 points.
