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Sports

Auburn gets 1st SEC win over South Carolina 79-64

Associated Press
Published | Updated

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Rob Chubb scored 18 points and Josh Wallace added 17 to give Auburn its first Southeastern Conference win in a 79-64 defeat over South Carolina on Saturday.

The Tigers (8-13, 1-6) lost their first six SEC games by an average of more than 12 points and appeared on their way to another double-digit league loss as South Carolina (12-7, 3-3) cruised to a 15-8 lead.

But the Tigers went on a 17-5 run, taking a lead they would not relinquish.

Auburn's stifling zone and sharp defensive pressure made the difference. South Carolina shot 7 of 33 from outside the arc and managed just 20 points in the paint.

The usually poor shooting Tigers also made 26 of their 34 free throws.

Ramon Galloway led the Gamecocks with 20 points starting for the injured Lakeem Jackson. South Carolina's leading scorer Bruce Ellington was held to nine points.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Rob Chubb scored 18 points and Josh Wallace added 17 to give Auburn its first Southeastern Conference win 79-64 over South Carolina on Saturday.

The Tigers (8-13, 1-6) lost their first six SEC games by an average of more than 12 points and appeared on its way to another double-digit league loss as South Carolina (12-7, 3-3) cruised to a 15-8 lead.

But the Tigers went on a 17-5 run, taking a lead they would not relinquish.

Auburn's stifling zone, switched up with sharp man-to-man defensive pressure made the difference. South Carolina shot 7-of-33 from outside the arc and managed just 20 points in the paint. Auburn had 42 points in the paint and only attempted five 3-pointers.

The usually poor shooting Tigers also made 26 of their 34 free throws.

Ramon Galloway led the Gamecocks with 20 points starting for the injured Lakeem Jackson. South Carolina's leading scorer Bruce Ellington was held to nine points.

The Gamecocks have made some second half comebacks this year, and a few blocks by Johndre Jefferson, playing for the first time this year in an SEC game got the offense going and the crowd excited. Brad Richardson's 3-pointer cut Auburn's lead to 55-50 with about 10 minutes to go.

But Auburn's offense answered and South Carolina seemed to wilt. Four Tigers surrounded the basket on one possession, getting three offensive rebounds before Chubb's putback put Auburn ahead 65-52 with 4:18 left.

South Carolina didn't give up easy and started fouling the Tigers with more than two minutes to go.

But South Carolina kept missing key shots and Gamecocks coach Darrin Horn finally gave up after Muldrow missed a 3 with 49 seconds to go.

Wallace stole the ball on an inbounds pass in the final seconds and held it above his head with a big smile as the Tigers finally won an SEC game.

Kenny Gabriel added eight points and 13 rebounds and Earnest Ross and Chris Denson each added 10 points.

Sam Muldrow scored 14 points and had nine rebounds for the Gamecocks.

Auburn's win assures the SEC won't have a winless team for the first time since Georgia Tech with 0-14 in 1954. The league hasn't had a one-win team since Alabama went 1-17 in 1969.

The loss is a big blow for the young Gamecocks, a double-digit favorite on Saturday who showed signs of being better than a last place pick in the SEC East.