South Carolina Has Florida’s Number

South Carolina might want to face Florida again in the Southeastern Conference tournament.

The Gators are about the only conference team the Gamecocks match up with really well.

Tre’ Kelley scored 17 points, made three free throws in the last 26 seconds and had a key steal down the stretch that helped South Carolina upset the No. 7-ranked Gators, 71-67, Wednesday night.

The Gamecocks, 12-10 overall, 3-6 in conference, ended the second-longest home winning streak in the nation at 20 games and swept Florida for the first time since the 1997-98 season.

The teams could meet in the second round of the conference tournament next month, which might pose another problem for Florida (20-3, 6-3).

“We believed the whole time we could beat these types of teams,” Kelley said. “We’re not coming out just to play. We’re coming out to win basketball games.”

No. 1 Connecticut 73, Syracuse 50 -- Rudy Gay had 22 points and 13 rebounds at Hartford, Conn., and the Huskies (21-1, 8-1 Big East Conference) won their 10th consecutive game.

The Huskies handed the Orange (16-7, 4-5) its fifth loss in six games.

Syracuse shot 31.9% from the field, including three for 26 from three-point range, was out-rebounded, 50-35, and had 10 shots blocked.

No. 8 George Washington 81, Dayton 67 -- Danilo Pinnock scored 21 points at Washington and the Colonials won their 11th consecutive game.

The Colonials (19-1, 9-0 Atlantic 10 Conference), who opened with a 14-3 run, got 20 points from Pops Mensah-Bonsu.

The Flyers (11-13, 3-7) fell to 1-7 on the road.

No. 12 Michigan State 77, Purdue 52 -- Paul Davis scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half at East Lansing, Mich., to help lift the Spartans (18-5, 6-3 Big Ten Conference), who shot 61% from the field in the second half.

Marcus White scored 14 points for the Boilermakers (8-14, 2-9).

No. 16 North Carolina State 86, Miami 77 -- Cameron Bennerman scored 23 points at Coral Gables, Fla., and the Wolfpack (19-4, 8-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) earned its second double-overtime win in four games.

The Hurricanes (14-9, 6-4) overcame a 56-44 deficit with six minutes left in regulation and made late baskets to force both overtimes.

No. 17 Boston College 72, Wake Forest 66 -- Freshman Tyrese Rice set season highs with 23 points and six three-point baskets, and the Eagles (18-5, 6-4 ACC) moved into a tie for third place in the conference with Miami.

Justin Gray scored 19 of his 24 points in the second half at Winston Salem, N.C., before fouling out for the Demon Deacons (12-11, 1-9).

Northwestern 51, No. 18 Iowa 48 -- Vedran Vukusic scored 26 points and made the go-ahead three-point at Evanston, Ill., and the Wildcats (11-10, 4-6) defeated the Big Ten-leading Hawkeyes (18-6, 7-3) for the fourth time in five games.

No. 20 Oklahoma 73, Oklahoma State 65 -- Terrell Everett scored 23 points at Stillwater, Okla., and the Sooners (15-5, 6-3 Big 12 Conference) earned their first road victory in the Bedlam series in six seasons.

JamesOn Curry scored 17 of his 20 points in the second half and Mario Boggan finished with 18 for the Cowboys (13-10, 3-6).

Wisconsin 72, No. 24 Indiana 54 -- Alando Tucker scored 29 points at Madison, Wis., and the Badgers (16-7, 6-4 Big Ten) ended a three-game skid.

The Hoosiers (13-7, 5-4), who have lost four of five, made only nine of their first 32 shots and were 16 for 56 overall.

Marco Killingsworth scored a team-high 14 points for Indiana before fouling out with 8 minutes 16 seconds to play.