Bahamas Exhibition Clash
In Nassau, the South Carolina Gamecocks met the University of Victoria Vikes for the third time in an exhibition series, a matchup that brought the Canadian squad to the Bahamas for a weekend of basketball.
The Vikes struck first, jumping to an early two‑nothing lead that caught the Gamecocks off guard, but South Carolina answered with a burst of offense led by Corey Mincy, who hit multiple three‑pointers and finished with a game‑high 14 points.
Shane Blakeney contributed a three‑point play early in the first half, tying the game at 26, while Alexis Biljauskas, a Wisconsin transfer from Lithuania, added points in the paint and a timely steal by Jakub Nites sparked a fast‑break bucket for Davion Hannah.
As the half progressed, South Carolina tightened its defense, forcing turnovers and limiting Victoria’s scoring, allowing the Gamecocks to pull ahead and eventually stretch their advantage.
The final score read 62‑52 in favor of South Carolina, matching the team’s largest lead of the night, as players such as Dylan Gage and Ryan Gallagher contributed timely baskets in the closing minutes.
Head coach Murphy Burnetowski’s Vikes, based in the Bahamas for the exhibition series, showed flashes of promise but could not overcome the depth and experience of a Division I opponent, leaving them with lessons ahead of their next matchup.
Looking forward, the Gamecocks’ strategy mirrors the approach of Lamont Paris’s Belmont team, targeting the Bahamas National Squad on Monday, while the Vikes aim to use the experience to bolster their program for future contests.