January 19, 2002

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – Matt Frieje scored 13 points, including a four-point play, and Vanderbilt used two big runs to put away South Carolina 60-51 on Saturday night.

The Commodores (12-6, 2-3 SEC) won their second straight Southeastern Conference game after opening 0-3 and losing their previous 12 in the league.

They did it with a 19-3 run to start the game and, after South Carolina had cut the margin to four points by halftime, opened the second period with a 15-0 surge to put them ahead 38-19.

The Gamecocks (11-7, 1-4) came as close as 50-45 on consecutive baskets by Aaron Lucas with 3:29 to go. But Chuck Moore converted a three-point play on Vanderbilt’s next possession to build the lead back up.

Frieje was at the center of Vanderbilt’s second-half charge. He made a short jumper to make it 27-19, then canned a 3-pointer from the left corner as Rolando Howell knocked him into the Commodores bench.

Frieje, a sophomore, popped up and shimmied as he walked to the foul line to finish the play and give Vandy a 12-point edge.

Brian Thornton had eight points during the run before Chris Warren finally hit a bucket for the Gamecocks with nearly five minutes gone in the period.

Chuck Moore scored 11 points and Brendan Plavich 10 points for the Commodores.

Lucas led the Gamecocks, who had won their previous three against Vanderbilt, with 20 points. Jamel Bradley added 13.

Two nights earlier, South Carolina’s women’s team had a near-capacity of 12,168 fans _ helped by promotional $1 tickets _ as the eighth-ranked Lady Gamecocks lost to No. 2 Tennessee 80-61.

But a buck was probably too much for this one early on. The Gamecocks opened 1-of-12 with 10 turnovers the first 13 minutes and fell behind to Vanderbilt 19-3.

Jason Holwerda started the Commodores with two buckets, while Brendan Plavich, David Przybyszewski and Sam Howard had consecutive 3-pointers and Przybyszewski closed the spurt with an inside shot.

Lucas had a driving bucket to start the Gamecocks on their way to a 16-4 run the last 6:25 of the half. Howell had the final seven points as South Carolina trailed 23-19 at the break.