COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Brenton Williams scored 19 points and Ty Johnson added 17 points to lead four players in double figures as South Carolina earned a 82-75 victory over South Carolina State Friday night.
Williams and Johnson took control after the Bulldogs erased a 15-point deficit to tie the game at 60 with 7:02 remaining in the game. The duo each scored five points during a 13-5 run that gave the Gamecocks a 73-65 lead with 3:28 remaining. South Carolina State (4-9) would not get closer than seven points the rest of the way as the Gamecocks made 14-of-17 free throws in the final ten minutes, including 12-of-15 after the score was tied.
South Carolina (7-6) closes its non-conference portion of the schedule by winning five of six games after opening the season 2-5.
Matthew Hezekiah led South Carolina State with 18 points. Theron Stephens scored 15.
