Jan. 30, 2008

Final Stats | Quotes | Notes | AP Action Photos

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – Zam Fredrick scored 23 points and South Carolina held Georgia’s top two scorers in check as the Gamecocks beat the Bulldogs 62-56 on Wednesday night.

Devan Downey hit three of four free throws in the final 21.7 seconds to seal the victory for South Carolina (10-10, 2-4 Southeastern Conference), who held on late to win. The Gamecocks have led in the second half of seven of their 10 losses.

South Carolina held Billy Humphrey and Sundiata Gaines, who were each averaging better than 13 points a game, to 12 points combined.

The Bulldogs (11-7, 2-3) never led, and trailed by as many as 11 in the first half. But Georgia went on a 13-4 run over the final 4:33 of the half to trail 26-24 at the break.

South Carolina scored 12 straight points early in the second half to take a 42-28 lead. But the Bulldogs scored seven straight points to cut the Gamecocks’ lead to 55-51 with 1:27 left.

On the next possession, Fredrick drove the lane and made a double-pump bank shot to put South Carolina up six with a minute to go. Fredrick then hit two free throws after Georgia’s Terrance Woodbury missed a 3-pointer to put the Gamecocks ahead 59-51 with 25.6 seconds remaining.

Downey, the SEC’s leading scorer averaging 20.1 points, was held to a season-low nine points on 3-of-10 shooting. Dominique Archie added 13 points for South Carolina, who broke a four-game losing streak against Georgia.

Woodbury led the Bulldogs with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Dave Bliss added 12 points and eight rebounds.