Feb. 24, 2007

Final Stats | Quotes | Notes

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – Tre’ Kelley poured in 28 points and Brandon Wallace swatted away seven shots to set the all-time school record for blocks as South Carolina slipped by Mississippi 76-63 Saturday night at the Colonial Center.

Kelley, who also had six assists, and Wallace, who added 12 points and seven rebounds, were two of three seniors honored before the game on senior night along with Bryce Sheldon. Sheldon hit four 3-pointers to finish with 14 points.

Sheldon, scoreless in the first half, hit two 3-pointers to help key an opening 12-6 second-half run as the Gamecocks (14-13, 4-10 in the Southeastern Conference) stretched their lead to 47-39 with 16:14 left. Another trey by Sheldon pushed the lead to 52-41 with 14:10 to go.

After the Rebels (18-10, 7-7) pulled within eight, the Gamecocks scored eight straight to go up 57-43 on Kelley’s two free throws with 13:02 left. South Carolina expanded its lead to 15 and Ole Miss never got closer than 10 after that.

The Rebels were led by Dwayne Parnell and Clarence Sanders with 14 each while Todd Abernethy had nine assists and no turnovers.

Ole Miss used a 14-2 run to erase a 10-point deficit late in the first half but South Carolina righted itself enough to take a 35-33 lead at intermission. The Gamecocks hit 11 of their first 15 shots to go up 25-15 on Kelleys NBA-length 3-pointer with 8:20 to go.

But the Rebels rallied, scoring nine straight points in just over two minutes to pull within one before going up 29-27 on Eniel Polynice’s two free throws with 2:23 left. But South Carolina scored six straight points to take the two-point halftime lead.

Wallace blocked four shots in the first half – all after picking up his second foul – to break the record of 235 set by Danny Traylor from 1971 to 1973. Wallace also tied the school record for games played with 132.