South Carolina holds off South Florida 69-66

Nov 21, 2009 - 5:09 AM CHARLESTON, S.C.(AP) -- Devan Downey scored 17 points and South Carolina reached the championship game of the Charleston Classic by downing South Florida 69-66 on Friday night at Carolina First Arena.

South Carolina (4-0) plays Miami at 6 p.m. on Sunday for the tournament championship.

South Florida (3-1) will play North Carolina-Wilmington at 3:30 p.m. in a consolation game.

Clutch free-throw shooting aided the Gamecocks down the stretch against the Bulls, as South Carolina made 11 of 14 in the last 1:49.

South Florida jumped out to a 10-point lead early in the first half against South Carolina, but the Gamecocks cut the margin to six at halftime.

South Carolina took a 40-38 lead at the 14:36 mark of the second half. While they never gave up the lead from that point on, the game was tight the remainder of the way.

Augustus Gilchrist led USF with 19 points.