Georgia beats S. Carolina

By: Barbara Herring | WSAV-TV
Published: February 14, 2008

Georgia jumps out to big first-half lead, routs S.C. 82-64.

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) - Sundiata Gaines scored 27 points while

leading Georgia to a big first-half lead, and the Bulldogs went on

to an 82-64 rout of South Carolina that snapped a five-game losing

streak.

Georgia (12-10, 3-6 Southeastern Conference) won tonight for the

first time since an 82-69 victory over Arkansas on January 19th.

The Gamecocks (12-11, 3-6) trailed 46-29 at the half and never

challenged.

With the Bulldogs down to just seven scholarship players, Gaines

has taken the team on his back. The senior guard scored a

career-best 32 points in a loss at Florida over the weekend, then

equaled the second-best showing of his college career against the

Gamecocks.

Gaines scored 19 points in the first half, hitting 4-of-5 from

beyond the 3-point stripe.

The Bulldogs, one of the worst-shooting teams in the SEC, made

16 of 28 (57 percent) in the opening period. Georgia dominated in

all facets, outrebounding the Gamecocks 20-14, knocking down 8 of 9

at the foul line and hitting 6 of 9 from 3-point range.

The teams split their season series. South Carolina defeated the

Bulldogs 62-56 on January 30th, the second of Georgia's five

straight losses.

Devan Downey led the Gamecocks with 20 points, while Zam

Fredrick added 15.

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