Brian Richardson scored 17 points to help USC defeat Presbyterian 76-60
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Brian Richardson scored 17 points and Damien Leonard added a season-high 15 points to lead South Carolina to a 76-60 victory over Presbyterian Saturday.
South Carolina (9-3) trailed only after the opening basket and won a season-high fourth straight despite missing three players from its lineup.
The Blue Hose (2-11) trimmed a 20-point second half deficit to nine points, but a second technical foul on coach Greg Nibert turned the tide back to the Gamecocks. Richardson made both technical foul shots and 1 of 2 free throws on the foul call that Nibert was arguing.
That was the beginning of 11 straight points by South Carolina. Mindaugas Kacinas followed Richardson's missed free throw with a layup to push the lead back to 14 points before the Blue Hose had possession again.
Kacinas added 13 points for South Carolina. Jordan Downing led Presbyterian with 19 points before fouling out.
