South Carolina pulls away late, tops DePaul 76-61

 

ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands (AP) Mindaugas Kacinas scored a career-high 23 points and South Carolina never trailed on the way to topping DePaul 76-61 in the Paradise Jam on Friday night.
Duane Notice scored 11 points and Sindarius Thornwell finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Gamecocks (3-0), who will play Hofstra – a surprise winner over Florida State earlier Friday – in Sunday’s semifinals.
Darrick Wood scored 14 points for DePaul (1-2), which lost for the 36th time in its last 43 road and neutral-site games. The Blue Demons cut what was a 16-point deficit to 5 in the second half, then managed only one field goal in the next 4 1/2 minutes.
DePaul next faces Florida State on Saturday in the consolation round.