Columbia, S.C. – No. 2 South Carolina men’s tennis fell 2-5 to No. 14 Mississippi State on Sunday in Starkville. The Gamecocks dropped the doubles point and were only able to pick up two singles wins on the day.
In doubles, the nation’s No. 1 pair of Connor Thomson and Toby Samuel were first to get a win, defeating their opponents 6-1 from the No. 1 position. Mississippi State evened the decision with a 6-4 win from the No. 3 position and were able to clinch the point in a tiebreaker at No. 2.
In singles, Samuel was quick to even things at 1-1, winning his match 6-2, 6-2 over No. 125 Nemanja Malesevic.
The Bulldogs picked up singles wins on Courts 4, 6, and 3 to clinch the win and added to their lead with a win on Court 3.
The final singles match on was No. 5 Thomson vs. No. 89 Carles Hernandez. The Bulldog took the first set 6-2, but Thomson took the second 6-4. With the match already clinched, the final set was played as a 10-point tiebreaker. Thomson went up 4-0 to start and was able to hold his lead throughout, winning the tiebreaker set 10-7.
The Gamecocks are now 15-2 on the season and have a 4-1 mark in conference play.
South Carolina men’s tennis will return home to continue SEC play, hosting Auburn and Arkansas on March 24 and 26 at the Carolina Tennis Center.
For all the latest South Carolina men’s tennis information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockMTennis).
(14) Mississippi State 5, (2) South Carolina 2
Doubles (order of finish: 1, 3, 2)
- #1 Toby Samuel/Connor Thomson (SC) def. #26 Carles Hernandez/Nemanja Malesevic (MS) 6-1
- Petar Jovanovic/Ewen Lumsden (MS) def. #22 Jake Beasley/James Story (SC) 7-6 (7-1)
- Michal Novansky/B. Sanchez Martinez (MS) def. Casey Hoole/Raphael Lambling (SC) 6-4
Singles (order of finish: 1, 4, 6, 3, 5, 2)
- #6 Toby Samuel (SC) def. #125 Nemanja Malesevic (MS) 6-2, 6-2
- #5 Connor Thomson (SC) def. #89 Carles Hernandez (MS) 2-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-7)
- Petar Jovanovic (MS) def. #84 Raphael Lambling (SC) 6-2, 6-4
- Ewen Lumsden (MS) def. James Story (SC) 6-4, 6-2
- B. Sanchez Martinez (MS) def. #83 Casey Hoole (SC) 6-3, 6-4
- Michal Novansky (MS) def. Jake Beasley (SC) 6-4, 6-4