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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Freshman Chuck Eidson broke out of a
four-game slump with 17 points and Marius Petravicius added 13,
leading South Carolina to a 77-72 upset over Vanderbilt (No. 25 ESPN/USA Today) on Saturday that ended the Commodores' promising regular season on a low note.
Eidson, a 6-foot-7 guard, had scored a combined 13 points the
previous four games.
The Gamecocks (13-16, 5-11 Southeastern Conference) overcame an
early 12-point deficit to stun the Commodores, who made just
9-of-33 shots in the second half after sinking 17-of-34 in the
first. South Carolina held Vanderbilt's Dan Langhi, the league's leading
scorer, to 17 points total and only 5 points in the second half.
The Commodores (18-9, 8-8) are headed to Atlanta for the SEC
tournament and a probable NCAA Tournament berth, but the loss to South
Carolina prevented new coach Kevin Stallings from giving Vandy its
first winning season in conference play in four years.
South Carolina took its first lead since the opening minutes
with 6:21 left, when Eidson completed a 3-point play to put the
Gamecocks up 58-55. Moments later Aaron Lucas drained a 3-pointer
and Carolina led 61-58.
After both teams struggled to make free throws down the stretch,
Eidson scored two free throws with 10.2 seconds remaining to close
out the Commodores.
South Carolina started three freshmen and a sophomore.
Vandy took a 38-29 halftime lead behind 12 first-half points by
Langhi and 10 by Anthony Williams. Petravicius scored South
Carolina's first six points in the opening minutes, but only two in
the rest of the first half. The Gamecocks outrebounded the
Commodores 20-11 in the first half, but made just 10-of-24 shots as
opposed to Vandy's 17-of-24.
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
South Carolina Clubhouse
Vanderbilt Clubhouse
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