Read more: Gamecocks, Basketball, Devan Downey, College, NCAA Basketball
(AP) -- COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Devan Downey scored 17 of his 34 points in the final 5 1/2 minutes to lead South Carolina over Jacksonville 97-93 on Friday night.
Despite playing for the first time in four years without Dominique Archie, who injured his knee Sunday in a loss to Miami, the Gamecocks (5-1) won the highest-scoring game in Colonial Life Arena's nine-year history.
Travis Cohn gave Jacksonville (0-3) a 75-74 lead before Downey and Brandis Raley-Ross, who had a season-high 18 points, took control. Downey hit two free throws to give South Carolina the lead, then added a layup on the next possession before Raley-Ross hit a free throw.
Downey then hit a jumper, two free throws, and a pull-up 3-pointer to give the Gamecocks an 86-78 lead with just under 2 minutes remaining.
Raley-Ross hit a lay-up before Downey made two more foul shots.
Ben Smith led the Dolphins with 31 points.
South Carolina Game Notes
- The win improves South Carolina's overall record vs. schools from the Atlantic Sun to 25-6. The Gamecocks now own a 3-1 record in the all-time series vs. Jacksonville.
- Devan Downey led the Gamecocks with 34 points, three points shy of matching his career high, which he set last season with 37 points - a Colonial Life Arena record - vs. Clemson.
- The contest marked Downey's fourth-career 30-point scoring game at South Carolina.
- The Gamecocks conclude the month of November with a 5-1 overall record. South Carolina now owns a 73-25 all-time record in the 11th month of the year.
- Senior guard Brandis Raley-Ross made his first start of the season vs. Jacksonville. He finished with a season-high 18 points and just two points shy of matching his career high.
- South Carolina is now 19-1 under head coach Darrin Horn when collecting at least nine steals in a contest. Freshman forward Lakeem Jackson and junior forward Sam Muldrow led Carolina with two steals each vs. Jacksonville.
(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
