Gamecocks go back-to-back

NEW YORK – South Carolina certainly didn’t begin the basketball season hoping to repeat as NIT champs.

The Gamecocks were, however, happy to end it that way and become only the second school to win consecutive NIT titles.

Tarence Kinsey scored 21 points and Tre’ Kelley added 20 and seven assists to help South Carolina beat Michigan 76-64 on Thursday night.

With four starters back from last year’s NIT champs, the Gamecocks began the season with hopes to graduate to an NCAA tournament berth this season. That didn’t work out, though South Carolina (23-15) made a late run at an automatic bid before losing the Southeastern Conference title game 49-47 to Florida.

Back in the NIT, the Gamecocks made the most of it and joined St. John’s, which won the NIT in 1943 and 1944, as the only teams to win back-to-back championships.