Dec. 22, 2004

Final Stats | Quotes | Notes

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – Tre Kelley scored six of his 15 points in overtime and Tarence Kinsey had a career-high 23 points to help lead South Carolina to a 68-65 win over South Carolina State on Wednesday night.

Kelley hit one of two foul shots and then scored on a driving layup as the Gamecocks (7-2) scored the first five points of overtime to go up 62-57 with 2:42 left.

The Bulldogs (7-3) never got closer than two as Kinsey hit 3-of-4 free throws in the final 6.5 seconds to give the Gamecocks their 13th win in as many games against South Carolina State.

Carlos Powell finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds for South Carolina. The Bulldogs were led by Thurman Zimmerman, who had 12 points and 12 rebounds.

There were nine lead changes in the first eight minutes of the second half before the Bulldogs went on an 8-0 run to grab a 47-41 lead on Demeco Heath’s layup. South Carolina State upped its lead to 50-43 on a 3-pointer by Heath with 8:33 left.

But Kinsey scored 10 points to spark a 12-0 surge he capped with his second 3-pointer of the run with 3:24 left that gave the Gamecocks their biggest lead to that point at 55-50.

The Bulldogs answered, pulling even behind a 3-pointer by Brandon Trapp and a runner in the lane by Derrick Davis that tied it at 57 with 1:09 remaining. Neither team scored again in regulation.

South Carolina is getting used to close games with its last five games decided by 14 points total.

“Five straight games. None decided by more than four. Won three, lost two. Coulda, woulda, shoulda on the other two,” coach Dave Odom said. “Bottom line is we’ve got seven wins, and we’ve got a lot to be thankful.”

The Gamecocks had the lead only once in the first half. After the Bulldogs regained the lead, Odom was called for a technical foul for arguing a call.

South Carolina State coach Ben Betts was pleased with his team’s performance, saying the Bulldogs put themselves in position to win.

“In the overtime the first couple of minutes we didn’t quite get the shots that we wanted,” Betts said. “But I’m very proud of our guys. I know they left everything out there on the floor.”