Photo Gallery: Oregon Ducks slam South Carolina

Ducks march on in NCAA Tournament.

Jermaine Couisnard scored 40 points on Thursday. (Photo: Emma Kappel)

PITTSBURGH — Jermaine Couisnard turned in a record-setting performance in front of his grandmother on Thursday.

Couisnard scored 40 points to lead No. 11 seed Oregon past No. 6 South Carolina by a score of 87-73. Couisnard’s scoring output was the best individual single-game NCAA Tournament performance in UO history, topping the 33 points scored by Tajuan Porter against UNLV in 2007.

Said Couisnard: “This is my grandma’s first game here this season. I knew I had to make a sacrifice for her. Just one day, that’s all I dreamed of for her to come to one of my games.”

It didn’t feel like an upset, did it?

Anyone who watched the Ducks rip through the Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas knows they’re playing with confidence and focus. Oregon has now won five straight games.

Couisnard said trash-talking from his former South Carolina teammates fueled him. He played his first three seasons with the Gamecocks but transferred to Oregon in 2022.

“Somebody said something to me on the court,” Couisnard said.

N’Faly Dante added 23 points for the Ducks. Oregon advances and will play No. 3 seed Creighton on Saturday in Pittsburgh.

Photographer Emma Kappel was on the scene for JohnCanzano.com. Her photo gallery is worth your time:

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