South Carolina @ Texas-El Paso preview

Coming off its Final Four appearance a season ago, South Carolina seemed like a heavy favorite to win the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, especially after the event was moved less than three hours away to Myrtle Beach following the devastation on the island following Hurricane Maria. The Gamecocks failed to bring much aggressiveness with them in their opening-round loss, however, and the result will be a consolation-bracket game Friday morning against UTEP in Conway, S.C.

"I don't care what you do defensively, the object of the game is to get the ball between two defenders on offense. On defense, the object of the game is don't let the ball get between two defenders. We never got between two defenders (and) they got it between two defenders whenever they wanted," South Carolina coach Frank Martin said following his team's 69-65 loss to Illinois State on Thursday. The Gamecocks shot a woeful 29.5 percent against the Redbirds' zone and committed 32 fouls, allowing their opponent to shoot 39 free throws. The Miners held a five-point edge over Boise State with 54 seconds remaining in their first-round matchup Thursday, but the Broncos scored the game's final seven points to come away with the 58-56 victory. After scoring the first 32 points of the game in last Friday's season-opening 100-50 rout of Division III Louisiana College, UTEP fell behind by as many as 13 late in the first half Thursday before making its rally.

TV: 10:30 a.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA (2-1): Like most of his fellow starters - the Gamecocks' first five shot a combined 11-of-39 from the field - Hassani Gravett (3-of-13) struggled offensively, but the 6-2 junior still tallied a career-high nine rebounds to go along with 10 points and five assists. Preseason All-SEC second-team selection Chris Silva missed his only field-goal attempt versus the Redbirds but still managed to reach double figures in scoring after posting single-game career highs for free throws made (10) and free-throw attempts (14). Gravett (2-of-10 on 3-pointers) and leading scorer Frank Booker (3-of-10), who also finished with 10 points Friday, contributed to South Carolina's woeful 9-for-32 effort beyond the arc; the Gamecocks entered the contest having connected on 43.5 percent of their 3-point attempts.

ABOUT UTEP (1-1): Keith Frazier - a 6-5 guard - is off to a fast start this season, averaging 17.5 points and 9.5 rebounds after erupting for 22 points and 10 rebounds Thursday; the former SMU and North Texas transfer knocked down three consecutive 3-pointers during one 1 1/2-minute stretch midway through the second half. Matt Willms (11.5 points, 7.5 boards, 3.5 blocks) was the other Miner in double figures, as the 7-1 senior center finished with 11 points, eight rebounds, five blocks and two steals. Isiah Osborne earned praise from coach Tim Floyd for his second-half contributions, but the sophomore guard could muster only five points and six rebounds against Boise State after leading the team with 17 points in the opener.

TIP-INS

1. Martin's next win will be his 99th at South Carolina.

2. After outscoring Louisiana College 26-6 in points off turnovers in the opener, UTEP lost the same battle 14-8 on Thursday.

3. The Gamecocks have held each of their three opponents below 37 percent from the field.

PREDICTION: South Carolina 68, UTEP 64