Nov. 18, 2005

CULLOWHEE, N.C. (AP) - Dwayne Day scored 18 points and the Gamecocks went on an 18-4 second-half run to give South Carolina an 87-62 win over Western Carolina on Friday.

Tre Kelley scored nine of his 15 points during the run for South Carolina (1-0). Tarence Kinsey added 14 points, Antoine Tisby had 12 and Renaldo Balkman scored 11.

Antonio Russell led all scorers with 19 for the Catamounts (1-3), while David Berghoefer was the only other Western Carolina player in double figures with 12.

The Catamounts scored first, on a jumper by Corey Muirhead. But South Carolina answered with a 3-pointer by Kinsey and never relinquished the lead.

Western Carolina drew as close as one point with 2:15 left before halftime, as Antoinio Russell and Kyle Greathouse hit back-to-back 3-pointers for the Cats. But Renaldo Balkman and Kinsey hit three free throws to put South Carolina ahead 34-29 at the half.

The Gamecocks opened up in the second half, shooting 66.7 percent on field goals and leading by as much as 29 points with 5:20 remaining.