Devan Downey had 24 points for the GamecocksBy Matt Long
Devan Downey scored 24 points as the Gamecocks' men's basketball team used a second half surge to sneak past Florida 77-71 at the Colonial Center in Columbia Wednesday night.
The Gamecocks forced 20 Gator turnovers and shot 6-of-12 from behind the three-point line in the second half.
Florida (17-7, 6-4) led for most of the game, but scored just two baskets in one six minute period late in the second half, as the Gamecocks turned a 53-53 tie into a 67-57 lead.
Brandis Raley-Ross added 20 points for South Carolina (14-9, 5-4) and Sam Muldrow chipped in with 16 points. Erving Walker led Florida with 20 points.
USC head coach Darrin Horn said the contributions from other players besides Downey was important.
"Sometimes when our entire team is putting forth in the games we have won, (it) has gone overlooked," Horn said. "Tonight was a good example."
The Gamecocks will travel to Athens Saturday to take on Georgia. The Bulldogs are 2-6 in the SEC. USC beat the Bulldogs 73-72 when they met in January.
