January 17, 2002

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Jamel Bradley made two big 3-pointers and then drove for a layup that broke a late tie and gave South Carolina a 62-60 victory over Arkansas on Wednesday night. It earned USC its first league win this season and its second-straight win at one of the nation’s toughest arenas to steal a game — Bud Walton Arena.

Rolando Howell’s three straight short-range baskets helped the Gamecocks (11-5, 1-2) to a double-digit lead and Bradley kept them in front with 3s for 50-44 and 53-47. Down 13 early in the half, Arkansas (10-6, 2-2) rallied behind Brandon Dean who made a 3 for a 58-58 tie with 3:03 to play — the first time the Razorbacks had been even since late in the first half.

Howell and Carl Baker matched free throws before Bradley dribbled past his defender with 1:10 to play.

Alonzo Lane lost control, but Arkansas got another chance when Chuck Eidson took steps with 27 seconds to play. After two timeouts, Dean’s jumper in the lane was way short and Marius Petravicius wrapped both arms around the ball. He missed the front end of a one-and-one with seven seconds to play, but Jannero Pargo misfired badly on a 3.

Arkansas had the ball out of bounds with three-tenths of a second to play — not enough time to catch and shoot — and the refs waved off Teddy Gipson’s attempt from the corner after Gipson grabbed the inbounds pass prior to attempting a desperation shot.

Dean was high-scorer for the Razorbacks with 18. Bradley led South Carolina with 16 points. Howell scored half of his 12 during a 91-second span. He got past Dionisio Gomez for a short jumper, put back a teammate’s miss and then converted another offensive rebound with a baseline jumper for 37-26.

Arkansas made 6-of-22 in the first half and the Razorbacks’ only basket during the first 7:16 of the second half was Pargo’s 3. In fact, USC held Arkansas to no field goals the final 8:18 of the first half and only one field goal over a 15:34 stretch of the game.

Dean, Arkansas’ best shooter in recent weeks, did not attempt a shot in the second half until he made a 3 9:20 deep in the period. T.J. Cleveland’s 3 and Dean’s fast break basket cut it to 47-40. Dean deflected a pass, glanced over his shoulder and then stuffed it emphatically. After another steal, Cleveland fed Dean for a layup that cut it to 47-44 and the fans were roaring.

Bradley held the Razorbacks at bay with his 3s.