COLUMBIA — Chris Silva threw one down off a missed free throw, and slammed home another on the break. A game against a Division II opponent offered the South Carolina freshman the perfect opportunity to do what he does best — play above the rim.
Silva’s three first-half dunks helped the 24th-ranked Gamecocks pull away from stubborn Francis Marion, and the freshman added a team-high 13 points in a 78-56 victory Wednesday at Colonial Life Arena. While the win over a lower-division opponent won’t count in the RPI which helps determine the NCAA Tournament field, it did maintain USC’s unbeaten start.