The Daily Gamecock

Issue date: 2/21/08 Section: Sports

South Carolina cut a 17-point second half Florida lead to one with 7.5 seconds left, but two free throws by freshman Jai Lucas were enough to propel the Gators to a hard-earned 85-82 victory Wednesday night at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.

Florida (20-7, 7-5 SEC) opted to foul point guard Devan Downey with 2.2 seconds left instead of giving up a potential game-tying 3-point attempt, and the sophomore from Chester missed the front end of a one-and-one. The Gators grabbed the rebound, ran out the clock and snapped their two-game losing skid.

It was the second loss for the men's basketball team (12-13, 4-7 SEC) against the Gators this year. The Gamecocks dropped another close decision, 71-73, to Florida last month at the Colonial Center.

For a while, Wednesday's game looked like it would be a blowout. Florida hit 20 of 30 shots in the first half, including 7-11 from three-point range. The Gators extended their lead to 17 with 14:35 remaining, but South Carolina made a huge run fueled by the inside-outside duo of Mike Holmes and Evka Baniulis.

Holmes scored a career-high 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Baniulis, who had 20 points, knocked down six triples, including two in the final minute. It wasn't enough to knock off the hot-shooting Gators.

Florida finished the game shooting 59 percent from the field and hit half of its 22 three-point attempts. All five Gator starters finished in double figures, including 17 points from freshman Nick Calathes and 15 from sophomore Dan Werner.

It was a game of runs on both sides throughout the game. Florida started 10 of 14 from the floor and pulled ahead 26-15 with 10:40 left in the first half. South Carolina responded with a 14-3 run to tie the game at 29 on Holmes' jumper with 6:15 remaining.

It seemed the Gamecocks had weathered the storm, but another Gator scoring barrage before the first half ended proved to be the difference as Florida opened up a 48-36 advantage at the break.

The Gators continued their torrid shooting early in the second half before USC made its run. SEC leading scorer Devan Downey's 18 points were two shy of his average, but his play in the second half was key in bringing the Gamecocks' back.

Downey dished out seven assists, including a handful to Holmes and Baniulis.

South Carolina was equally as impressive as the Gators with its perimeter shooting; the Gamecocks 12 of 23 showing from long range kept them in the game.

USC returns home to take on SEC West-leading Mississippi State at 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Colonial Center.

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