S.C. shoots past Vanderbilt

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - Chuck Eidson said the rims started to look big after South Carolina hit its first few shots against Vanderbilt Saturday night. <br> <br> Certainly they looked bigger than any of the others the Gamecocks have seen so far, as South Carolina shot a season-high 60 percent from the field on its way to an 84-72 victory against Vanderbilt. <br> <br> The Gamecocks (8-11, 2-7 in the Southeastern Conference) snapped a seven-game losing streak and posted its fourth straight win at Vanderbilt (10-10, 3-6). <br> <br> ``It has been a long month,&#39;&#39; said South Carolina coach Dave Odom, whose team last won on Jan. 8 against Ole Miss. ``But I can&#39;t think of a better way to end it.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Eidson led four Gamecocks in double figures with 18 points. Carlos Powell added 16 points off the bench, Kerbrell Brown scored 15 and Chris Warren added 11. <br> <br> South Carolina outrebounded Vanderbilt 33-22, marking the first time it has done so against an SEC opponent this season. <br> <br> The Gamecocks hit 64 percent of their 3-pointers (7-for-11) after entering the game shooting just 28 percent this season. <br> <br> ``We worked a lot on shooting this week in practice,&#39;&#39; Powell said. ``I guess it paid off.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> South Carolina posted season-highs in field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage, points and points in the first half. <br> <br> ``You had the feeling they would shoot well against someone,&#39;&#39; said Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings. ``It&#39;s becoming a typical thing that it comes against us.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Brian Thornton led Vanderbilt (10-10, 3-6) with 22 points, while Matt Freije scored 13 and Jason Holwerda had 10. <br> <br> South Carolina entered the game last in the SEC in scoring offense, but shot 59 percent and used a 21-4 run midway through the first half to build a 46-31 halftime lead. <br> <br> ``They might have dug themselves too big a hole,&#39;&#39; Eidson said. ``If it was closer (at halftime), it would have been more of a nail-biter. It was good to get a little lead.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Vanderbilt pulled to 62-50 with 8:40 to play, but South Carolina went on an 8-2 run. <br> <br> The Gamecocks largest lead in the game was 18 points. Vanderbilt was unable to get the lead under 10 until 1:02 to go. <br> <br> The victory was the first road win of the season for South Carolina and snapped a six-game SEC road losing streak, dating back to last season&#39;s game at Vanderbilt.

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