Carolina Crushes Tennessee 84-58, Now 23-5

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Duane Notice had 17 points off four 3-pointers and South Carolina ran past Tennessee 84-58 on Wednesday night, matching the team’s most victories in 10 years.

The Gamecocks (23-5, 10-5 Southeastern Conference) built a 15-point lead by halftime and finished with their largest margin of victory against an SEC opponent since defeating Texas A&M 80-52 here two seasons ago. It also kept South Carolina tied for second with the Aggies in the SEC race, just a game behind league-leader Kentucky.

And it was Notice’s long-range shooting that turned a tight game into a runaway. He hit all four of shots from behind the arc — including three straight — in an 18-6 run to close the opening half.

It was the second game the Vols (13-15, 6-9) played without top-scorer Kevin Punter, out with a right foot injury. Devon Baulkman led Tennessee with 19 points.

Michael Carrera had 16 points and 10 rebounds, his fourth consecutive game and 10th this season with double-figure points and boards.

South Carolina looked like it had fallen out of SEC title contention with consecutive losses to Kentucky and Missouri earlier this month. But the Gamecocks came into the night just a game behind the Wildcats for the top spot.

And South Carolina came out quickly to take control, running to an 11-2 lead less than 3 minutes on. Tennessee was down just 31-28 on Baulkman’s 3-pointer — he had four in the opening half and five overall — with 8:33 to go.

That’s when the Gamecocks closed the half with an 18-6 run to take a 49-34 lead into the break. Notice had 13 points, off four 3-pointers, in that South Carolina stretch.

The Vols played a second straight game without leading scorer Kevin Punter, a 22-point-a-game scorer who has a stress fracture in his right foot.

—

TIP INS

Tennessee: The Vols had a career night at the foul line the last time they faced South Carolina, making 30 of 32 free throws (93.8 percent) in the 78-69 victory on Jan. 23. Tennessee leads the Southeastern Conference in foul-shooting at 73.1 percent. The Vols were just 4 of 11 on foul shots in this one.

South Carolina: When Michael Carrera had 20 points and 15 rebounds in the win over Florida last Saturday, it was his second time this season reaching at least that many in those categories. It was also the first time a South Carolina player has had multiple 20-15 games since Jimmy Foster had three in the 1983-84 season.

UP NEXT

Tennessee returns home to face Arkansas on Saturday night.

South Carolina heads to Mississippi State on Saturday.