Gamecocks find game against Gators

South Carolina might want to face Florida again in the Southeastern Conference tournament – it’s about the only conference team against which the Gamecocks match up well.

Tre’ Kelley scored 17 points, made three free throws in the final 26 seconds and had a key steal down the stretch that helped South Carolina upset the seventh-ranked Gators 71-67 on Wednesday night at Gainesville, Fla.

The Gamecocks (12-10, 3-6) ended the second-longest home winning streak in the nation at 20 games and swept Florida for the first time since 1997-98.

The teams could meet again in the second round of the conference tournament next month, which might pose another problem for Florida (20-3, 6-3).

(1) Connecticut 73, Syracuse 50: At Hartford, Conn., Rudy Gay had 22 points and 13 rebounds and the Huskies defeated the Orange for their 10th straight victory.

(8) George Washington 81, Dayton 67: At Washington, Danilo Pinnock scored 21 points to lead the Colonials over the Flyers.

(12) Michigan St. 77, Purdue 52: At East Lansing, Mich., Paul Davis scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half to help the Spartans pull away from the Boilermakers.

(16) N.C. State 86, Miami 77 (2OT): At Coral Gables, Fla., Cameron Bennerman scored 23 points as the Wolfpack overcame blowing a 15-point lead to defeat the Hurricanes for their second double-overtime win in four games.

(17) Boston College 72, Wake Forest 66: At Winston-Salem, N.C., freshman Tyrese Rice set season highs with 23 points and six 3-pointers and the Eagles held off the Demon Deacons.

Northwestern 51, (18) Iowa 48: At Evanston, Ill., Vedran Vukusic scored 26 points and converted the go-ahead three-point play to help the Wildcats upset the Hawkeyes.

(20) Oklahoma 73, Oklahoma St. 65: At Stillwater, Okla., Terrell Everett scored 23 points as the Sooners defeated the Cowboys for their first road win in the Bedlam series in six years.

Wisconsin 72, (24) Indiana 54: At Madison, Wis., Alando Tucker scored 29 points and the Badgers snapped a three-game losing streak by topping the Hoosiers, who shot 16 for 56 from the field.

Women

Courtney Paris totaled 18 points and 12 rebounds for a Big 12 Conference-record 21st double-double and ninth-ranked Oklahoma became the first team in conference history to open with 10 wins by defeating Kansas 86-57 at Norman, Okla.

(12) Baylor 91, Nebraska 69: At Waco, Texas, Sophia Young scored 18 points to help the Lady Bears rout the Sooners. … (17) DePaul 68, Cincinnati 53: At Chicago, Allie Quigley had 18 points and five assists, leading the Blue Demons past the Bearcats. … Utah 70, (18) BYU 52: At Provo, Utah, Kim Smith had 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Utes past the Cougars. … (20) New Mexico 85, Colorado St. 51: At Albuquerque, N.M., Dionne Marsh scored 21 points as the Lobos routed the Rams. … Marquette 74, (23) St. John’s 59: At New York, Krystal Ellis scored 24 points as the Golden Eagles upset the Red Storm. … (24) Texas A&M 73, Texas 53: At Austin, Texas, Morenike Atunrase scored 15 points and the Aggies used a 28-0 run in the first half to blow past the Longhorns.