COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Devan Downey scored 15 points to lead five South Carolina players in double figures as the Gamecocks defeated Western Kentucky 74-56 on Wednesday night.
Playing short-handed for the second straight game, South Carolina (6-1) went on a 21-4 run in the first half as five players connected on 3-pointers.
Brandis Raley-Ross hit a pair of 3-pointers and Ramon Galloway, Sam Muldrow and Downey also connected from long range during the stretch lasting more than 6 minutes.
The Gamecocks were 10-for-16 from the field in building a 15-point lead, but went 6-for-23 the remainder of the half.
Western Kentucky (2-3) opened the second half on an 11-5 run to pull within eight but could not get any closer.
Muldrow and Raley-Ross had 12 points apiece while Galloway and Evaldas Baniulis scored 11 each.
A.J. Slaughter led Western Kentucky with 12 points.