Dec 16, 2002

Box Score?|? Quotes

By PETE IACOBELLI
AP Sports Writer

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Rolando Howell and Carlos Powell scored 16 points each as South Carolina won its 19th straight game over Wofford, 70-59, on Monday night.

The Gamecocks (5-2) hadn’t lost to the Terriers (3-4) since the 1938-39 season, yet trailed 35-29 early in the second half after Wofford began the period with an 11-2 run.

That’s when Howell and Powell led a 13-0 charge that turned things around for South Carolina, which ended a two-game losing streak.

Howell started things with a bucket, then Powell followed with two free throws. Chuck Eidson’s three-point play tied the game at 35 and Powell put the Gamecocks ahead to stay with a short jumper.

Powell had two foul shots to push the lead to 44-40 and Howell made a free throw and a three-point play to give South Carolina a 58-45 lead.

Howell added eight rebounds. Eidson, a senior point-forward, finished with eight points and a career-high 12 rebounds.

The Terriers, whose other losses came on the road to Auburn, Clemson and West Virginia, got within 63-54 on Sam Daniels three-point play with 2:54 to go. However, they only made two more field goals down the stretch.

Junior college transfer Kerbrell Bwown had 10 points – all in the second half – and eight rebounds for the Gamecocks.

Adrien Borders had 13 points to lead the Terriers, who played without starting forward Grant Sterley, who was suffering from food poisoning.

And despite being shorthanded, Wofford hung with South Carolina for much of the opening half at the Carolina Center.

The Terriers led 24-20 on Lee Nixon’s breakaway jam and Tyler Berg’s foul shot with 4:13 remaining. Then Howell scored six of his nine first-half points as the Gamecocks closed the period with a 7-0 run to lead 27-24 at the break.