Feb. 28, 2004

Final Stats?|? Quotes?|? Notes

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – Josh Gonner scored 10 of his game-high 22 points in a decisive 14-1 second-half run as South Carolina snapped Georgia’s three-game winning streak with a 63-47 victory Saturday night.

The Gamecocks (21-7, 8-6 Southeastern Conference) remain tied with Florida for second place in the SEC East and are back on track for an NCAA tournament bid after losing five of their last seven.

The loss dimmed tournament hopes for the Bulldogs (14-11, 6-8), who are in fifth place in the East, one game behind fourth-place Vanderbilt.

Rolando Howell scored 10 points for South Carolina, but left the game and was taken to the hospital for X-rays after falling on his wrist early in the second half.

Rashad Wright led Georgia with 13 points and Levi Stukes was the only other Bulldog in double-figures with 12.

South Carolina scored eight straight points by four different players to go up 46-38 with 11:33 left on a layup by seldom-used reserve John Chappell, who was filling in for Howell.

Chappell, who scored four points on 2-of-3 shooting, got a standing ovation and the crowd chanted his name.

The Bulldogs pulled within three on Wright’s 3-pointer with 10:26 left, but that was as close as they could get.

South Carolina went on a 14-1 run that was capped by the last of six foul shots by Gonner.

Georgia never trailed in the first half and led 31-30 heading into the locker room despite being outshot and having three players saddled with three fouls.