Nov. 5, 2009

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – Sam Muldrow scored 17 points to lead five Gamecocks in double figures, and South Carolina pulled away from Kentucky Wesleyan in the second half to post a 78-55 exhibition win on Thursday night at Colonial Life Arena.

It marks the second straight year for the Gamecocks to take down the Division II Panthers in a preseason contest and gives Carolina its fifth straight exhibition win. The Gamecocks won last season’s exhibition with KWC by a nearly-identical 75-55 score.

Muldrow scored South Carolina’s first five points and led the way with a 5-for-9 night from the floor – 2 for-2 from 3-point range – to go along with seven rebounds. He also knocked down 5-of-8 free throw attempts on the night.

Four other Gamecocks hit double figures, including senior Dominique Archie with 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Freshman Ramon Galloway made a strong Carolina debut with 11 points and four rebounds. Mike Holmes added 10 points on 5-for-8 shooting, and Brandis Raley-Ross had 10 of his own, knocking down a pair of 3-point attempts.

Returning All-SEC point guard Devan Downey contributed seven assists along with three steals. Freshman Lakeem Jackson earned a start in his first game in a Gamecock uniform, scoring eight points while adding three assists in 26 minutes of action.

Leading by just 11 at halftime thanks to a Raley-Ross 3-pointer as time expired in the first period, the Gamecocks began to pull away midway through the second half. The Gamecocks put together a 9-0 run to extend their lead to as many as 19 with just over 12 minutes to go, thanks to strong defensive play that continued to force Kentucky Wesleyan turnovers. The Panthers would turn the ball over 24 times on the night, leading to 34 Gamecock points.

After the Panthers clawed their way back to within 10 with just under nine minutes to play, the Gamecocks would put it out of reach with a 12-0 run that culminated in a pair of tough layups by Holmes and Archie to give Carolina a 22-point lead at 66-44 at the 6:30 mark.

South Carolina opened the game on a 9-0 run, sparked by five quick points by Muldrow. Kentucky Wesleyan did not score until the 16:07 mark of the first half, but went on a run of its own to tie the game at 15-15 with just under 11 minutes to play. The Gamecocks, however, would limit the Panthers’ chances as KWC shot 39.3 percent on the night.

Kentucky Wesleyan was led by Desmond Stephens who had 15 points on the night. Kwan Waller added 11 off the bench.

The Gamecocks open the 2009-10 regular season on Friday, Nov. 13, as Alabama A&M comes to Colonial Life Arena. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.