Gators earn a key road win

Florida continued to solidify its postseason prospects with a 65-41 win over South Carolina on Saturday.

The Gators (17-8, 8-4 SEC) never fell off the NCAA Tournament bubble, but losing three of four games before beating LSU earlier in the week dropped them from the Top 25 and lessened their chances of winning the SEC regular-season championship. After the slumpbreaking win over the Tigers, Florida crushed the Gamecocks (13-12, 4-8) at Colonial Life Arena by dominating the paint.

Florida’s defense blocked eight shots in the first half, 10 for the game, and contained center Chris Silva, the anchor of the Gamecocks’ offense. The Gators out-rebounded South Carolina by 22.

“We showed up to play, but then Florida said, ‘We’re not losing to you guys again,’” coach Frank Martin said. “They ratcheted up the competitiveness of the game and we looked for the backdoor instead of the fight.”

When South Carolina made a brief run to get back in the game, the Gators sank six of their final seven shots for a 21-point lead at halftime. Florida never let South Carolina get within 15 points in the second half. The Gamecocks lost their fifth straight.

“This was our best performance of the year. Everybody contributed defensively and on the glass,” Florida coach Mike White said. “Of course, we’re reminded how much success South Carolina’s had against us.”

The Gamecocks had a two-game winning streak over the Gators, the first to reach their first Final Four last season and the second that started Florida’s midseason skid.

The Gamecocks beat Florida on Jan. 24 by hitting 11 3-pointers and getting 22 points from point guard Wes Myers. On Saturday, Myers was on the bench as Hassani Gravett started. South Carolina made two 3-pointers and Myers was scoreless.

Silva found his way through Florida’s defense for 10 points and Frank Booker scored 17, the Gamecocks’ only offensive highlights.

The Gators blocked off the paint early and while offense was hard to come by, Deaundre Ballard supplied a punch with six points off the bench. It spread to the rest of the team, guards Jalen Hudson and Chris Chiozza combining for 24 points and Egor Koulechov adding nine. T.J. Gibbs

C.J. Walker points, Phil Cofer, P.J. Savoy, Hamilton

GAVIN MCINTYREA/ASSOCIATED PRESS Florida forward Kevarrius Hayes (13) blocks a shot by South Carolina forward Chris Silva (30) during the first half of play Saturday at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, S.C