For more on this upset, check out our South Carolina blog, Garnet and Black Attack, and our Vanderbilt blog, Anchor Of Gold.
South Carolina Upsets No. 13 Vanderbilt, 77-73
Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - Devan Downey drained four three-pointers en route to a game-high 26 points, as South Carolina used a second-half surge to upend 13th-ranked Vanderbilt, 77-73.
Down nine midway through the second half, Brandis Raley-Ross hit a jumper to ignite an 18-2 burst for South Carolina, transforming a 55-46 deficit into a 64-57 advantage.
Vanderbilt guard Jermaine Beal knocked down a trey to tie the game at 69, but Downey quickly answered from behind the arc on the ensuing South Carolina possession. The Gamecocks led by four after Sam Muldrow converted 1-of-2 free throws with 42.2 seconds remaining.
Beal dashed to the hoop for an easy layup, and Steve Tchiengang sent South Carolina’s Ramon Galloway to the foul line, where he made both attempts.
Once again, Beal was allowed to make a high-percentage shot, but Stephen Spinella sealed the upset with a thunderous dunk for South Carolina.
Muldrow finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and two blocks for the Gamecocks (15-15, 6-10 SEC), who snapped a six-game losing streak.
Beal scored 21 points and grabbed eight boards to pace the Commodores (23-7, 12-4), whose loss handed the outright SEC title to Kentucky. Vanderbilt needed a win and a loss by Kentucky against Florida on Sunday to earn at least a share of the regular-season crown.
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