NASCAR-GORDON-FINAL SEASON
AP: Jeff Gordon decided last year to leave NASCAR after ’15
UNDATED (AP) – Jeff Gordon tells The Associated Press that he decided in the middle of last season that 2015 would be his last as a full-time NASCAR driver.
The four-time champion says he was in talks with team owner Rick Hendrick when he came to the conclusion to race a 23rd and final season in the No. 24 Chevrolet. Gordon says the timing is just right both personally and professionally.
He delayed announcing his decision until Thursday, when he first told his two young children at home in Charlotte, North Carolina. Gordon says that’s when his decision became a reality, and he broke down in tears.
Gordon sobbed the entire 30-minute drive to Hendrick Motorsports, and again lost his composure as he informed his team and his longtime employees.
The 43-year-old Gordon trails only Hall of Fame drivers Richard Petty (200) and David Pearson (105) in wins.
T25-KENTUCKY-S CAROLINA SELLOUT
South Carolina-Kentucky game is a sellout; first in 4 years
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) β There’s always lots of attention when No. 1 Kentucky comes to South Carolina. Now, there will be a full house, too.
The Gamecocks announced Thursday that their game against the undefeated Wildcats on Saturday at Colonial Life Arena is a sellout. It’s the first sellout in the 18,000-seat arena since Jan. 22, 2011, when the Gamecocks also took on Kentucky and lost 67-56.
South Carolina has played 10 games at home this season and ranks fourth in the Southeastern Conference in average attendance with 10,797 people pr game.
COASTAL CAROLINA-UNC ASHEVILLE
UNC Asheville races by Coastal Carolina, 75-65
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) β Andrew Rowsey scored 17 points and added five assists to lead UNC Asheville to a 75-65 victory over Coastal Carolina 75-65 on Thursday night.
David Robertson added 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field and Kevin Vannatta finished with 13 points for the Bulldogs (9-9, 5-2 Big South).
UNC Asheville shot 52.1 percent from the field, tallied 16 total assists, and finished plus-6 in the rebounding battle. Overall, the Bulldogs are 8-1 this season when out-rebounding their opponents.
UNC Asheville led 40-26 at the half, helped by a 9-2 run midway through the period. The Bulldogs would continue to build their lead in the second half, pushing it to as many as 20.
Warren Gillis scored 14 points to lead Coastal Carolina (14-5, 5-2). Elijah Wilson added 13 points and six rebounds for the Chanticleers.
THE CITADEL-ETSU
ETSU pulls away from The Citadel, 70-59
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) β Jalen Riley scored 18 points and added four assists to lead East Tennessee State to a 70-59 victory over The Citadel on Thursday night.
Rashawn Rembert also finished with 18 points for the Buccaneers (12-6, 6-3 Southern Conference) and Lester Wilson had 11 points to pass the 1,000 point plateau in his career. Overall, the trio of Riley, Rembert, and Wilson have accounted for 64.8 percent of the Buccaneers offense this season.
Defensively, ETSU held The Citadel to 39 percent shooting from the field while forcing 16 turnovers.
ETSU opened the game on a 9-2 run and held a nine-point halftime lead. The Citadel trimmed the lead as low as five in the second, but could not complete the comeback.
Ashton Moore scored 19 points to lead The Citadel (8-11, 3-5).
This was the 51st all-time meeting between the two schools, but the first since 2005.
CAMPBELL-PRESBYTERIAN
Murray scores 21, Presbyterian tops Campbell 72-70
CLINTON, S.C. (AP) β DeSean Murray scored 21 points to help Presbyterian hand Campbell its sixth-straight loss 72-70 on Thursday night.
Andrew Ryan’s 3-pointer with 1:48 left gave Campbell (7-13, 1-6 Big South) a 68-67 lead, its first of the second half.
After Jordan Downing missed a jumper, Murray grabbed the offensive rebound and his putback with 1:26 to play put Presbyterian (7-13, 3-4) back in front.
Reco McCarter missed two free throws on the other end before another layup by Murray made it 71-68 with 41 seconds remaining.
McCarter then missed a potential tying 3-pointer and Downing made the first of two free throws to make it a four-point game with 13 seconds to go.
Downing finished with 13 points and Davon Bell added 10 for Presbyterian, which shot a season-high 68.3 percent from the field.
Kyre’ Hamer scored 17 and Andrew Ryan added 15 points for Campbell.
FURMAN-WOFFORD
Cochran’s 3s propel Wofford past Furman 74-49
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) β Karl Cochran sank six 3-pointers and finished with 23 points to lead hot-shooting Wofford to a 74-49 win over Furman on Thursday night.
Justin Gordon and Spencer Collins added 14 points apiece as Wofford (15-5, 6-1 Southern) shot 55 percent from the floor on 51 attempts and 8 of 14 from beyond the arc. Cochran also hauled in seven rebounds for the Terriers, who controlled the boards 34-16 while holding Furman (5-13, 3-5) to 33 percent shooting (14 of 43).
Furman trailed only briefly after the opening tipoff and broke away with a 12-4 run that included half of Cochran’s 3-pointers that made it 22-11 and the margin remained at double figures the rest of the way. Taking a 38-20 advantage into the break, the Terriers continued to pull away in the second half.
Stephen Croone led Furman with 20 points.
FLORIDA GULF COAST-SC UPSTATE
Florida Gulf Coast holds off SC Upstate 71-68
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) β Julian DeBose scored 14 of his 18 points in the first half, Bernard Thompson added 14, and Florida Gulf Coast held of a second-half rally by SC Upstate to win 71-68 Thursday.
Brett Comer and Jamail Jones scored 10 apiece for the Eagles (13-7, 3-1 Atlantic Sun), who were outshot and outrebounded, but made 7 of 20 from distance and 16 of 21 free throws.
DeBose opened with a 3-pointer, Thompson hit back-to-back 3s and Florida Gulf Coast soon led by double digits, taking a 37-28 lead into halftime.
Ty Greene scored consecutive buckets and the Spartans rallied in the second half, pulling to a 55-53 lead after a layup and free throw by Greene with 7:06 left. The Eagles used an 8-2 run capped by a Thompson 3 to pull ahead 67-61 and held on down the stretch.
Greene led the Spartans (13-7, 1-3) with 26 and Josh Cuthbertson had 11. Fred Miller had seven assists.
WINTHROP-LIBERTY
Winthrop handles Liberty 71-56
LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) β Keon Moore scored 17 of his 22 points in the second half to lead Winthrop to a 71-56 win over Liberty Thursday night, handing the Flames their seventh straight Big South Conference loss.
Keon Johnson added 16 for the Eagles (9-9, 4-3), who made 21 of 28 free throws.
Winthrop opened with a 10-2 run, then Johnson scored eight straight points amid a 19-6 run and the Eagles pulled to a 29-15 halftime lead. Liberty shot just 23.1 percent from the field and missed all seven 3-point attempts.
David Andoh scored five straight and Liberty gained ground early in the second half, pulling within 48-41 after a layup by A.C. Reid. Moore scored four straight points and the Eagles pulled away. Johnson had seven free throws in the final 1:30 for Winthrop.
Andoh and Andrew Smith scored 11 apiece for Liberty (6-14, 0-7) and Theo Johnson had 10.
