COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — LaDontae Henton had 18 points and Vincent Council and Gerard Coleman had 16 points each as Providence pulled away late to defeat South Carolina 76-67 in the Big East-SEC Challenge on Thursday night.
The Friars (6-2) used a 14-4 run late in the second half that featured a four-point play from Bryce Cotton to take control.
The Gamecocks (2-5) had cut an 11-point lead down to 51-47 on Brian Richardson’s three-point play with 8:54 to go when Providence got going. Coleman started the clinching rally with a pair of foul shots before Cotton struck for a 3-pointer from the top, left side of the basket and was fouled by Anthony Gill.
The game marked the return to the basketball team of South Carolina point guard Bruce Ellington, who had been playing with the Gamecocks football team.
