COLUMBIA, S.C. — J.P. Estrella scored 22 points, Felix Okpara added 20 and No. 23/25 Tennessee defeated South Carolina, 78-59, on Senior Night at Colonial Life Arena. The Volunteers (21-9, 11-6 Southeastern Conference) held a 56-18 scoring edge in the paint as Estrella and Okpara combined to make 20 of 27 shots. Ja’Kobi Gillespie, the Vols’ leading scorer at 18.7 points per game, was held to eight points on 3-of-9 shooting. But he had a career-high 12 assists finding Estrella and Okpara around the rim. Meechie Johnson scored 20 points for the 12th time this season to lead the Gamecocks (12-18, 3-14). South Carolina cut the Vols’ lead to 46-40 on Kobe Knox’s basket with 16 minutes left. But Estrella had three buckets inside during a 10-4 Tennessee spurt that helped them take control of the game. The Vols shot 54.1% (33-of-61) from the field, their highest percentage in an SEC game this season. KEY STAT The Gamecocks shot below 40% from the floor for the third-straight game, going 18-of-49 (36.7%) tonight. Carolina falls to 0-7 when shooting less than 40% from the floor this season. NOTABLES The Gamecocks honored six seniors prior to the game: forward Nordin Kapic, guard Mike Sharavjamts, guard Kobe Knox, guard Eli Sparkman, guard Myles Stute and guard Meechie Johnson. Johnson continued his standout play leading the Gamecocks again with 20 points, his career-best 12th, 20-point outing of the season (10th in SEC play). The Cleveland, Ohio native now has 16 consecutive games in double-figures. He’s scored 10 or more a team-leading 24 times this season and is averaging a career-best 17.3 points per game. He’s averaging 19.8 points per game in 17 SEC contests. Johnson led the team with four assists, his 19th game this season leading the team in assists. He’s had a career-high 129 assists (4.3 apg) and 40 steals (1.3 spg) this season. Kapic matched his season-high with 13 points in 24 minutes off the bench. It’s was his third game in double-figures this season. Kapic went 3-of-5 from behind the arc. UP NEXT South Carolina concludes the regular season on Saturday at Ole Miss (12-17, 4-12 SEC). Tip is set for 1 p.m. (ET) in Oxford with Mike Morgan (pxp) and Rodney Terry (analyst) on the call for the SEC Network broadcast. ### Categories: Local Sports, South Carolina Sports, Sports, USC Gamecocks ...read more read less