AUBURN, Ala. - Carlos Powell's steal and layup with 13 seconds left lifted South Carolina to a 53-51 overtime victory over Auburn on Wednesday night.
Powell swiped the ball from Nathan Watson at midcourt and drove to the basket for the Gamecocks (15-2, 2-1). Kerbrell Brown batted away Lewis Monroe's shot and Nathan Watson's follow also missed in the final seconds.
The Tigers (10-4, 1-2) made 16 of 63 shots, and the teams combined for five field goals after ending regulation tied at 47.
Powell finished with 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting and had a team-high seven rebounds. Josh Gonner and Brown scored 10 as South Carolina snapped a six-game losing streak against Auburn.
South Carolina has won seven of its past eight games.
Brandon Robinson led Auburn with 12 points and tied his career high with 15 rebounds. Marco Killingsworth added 12 points and nine rebounds, and Watson scored 11. Kyle Davis had five points, nine rebounds and six blocks.
The Gamecocks trailed 41-32 midway through the second half after missing 13 consecutive shots, then took their first lead since the opening minute with a 10-0 run.
Tarence Kinsey's putback with 52 seconds left gave South Carolina the lead again 47-45. Watson hit two free throws with 35 seconds left, and the Gamecocks couldn't get off a good shot after that as Gonner's desperation attempt hit the side of the backboard as time expired.
ALABAMA 81, ARKANSAS 65: Kennedy Winston scored 25 and Earnest Shelton 19 to lift the host Crimson Tide to a sloppy win.
Chuck Davis added 17 points, including seven from the line. Alabama (9-4, 1-1) made 25 of 35 free throws and sank 19 after halftime to pull away from the Razorbacks (8-6, 0-3).
The teams combined for 45 fouls, 27 after halftime, and 27 turnovers.
State
UM 70, ST. JOHN'S 64: Robert Hite scored 18 and Guillermo Diaz 15 for the visiting Hurricanes (11-5, 1-1 Big East). The Red Storm is 4-9, 0-3.
UCF 70, FAU 52: Dexter Lyons scored 25 and Roberto Morentin 17 to lead the visiting Golden Knights (12-2, 7-0 Atlantic Sun) to their 10th straight win. Central Florida opened with a 10-2 run and never trailed while holding the Owls (7-7, 4-3) 30 points below their average.
STETSON 66, JU 64: Aubrey Conerly missed a last-second shot for the Dolphins (6-7, 1-5 Atlantic Sun) as the host Hatters (4-8, 2-4) held on.
B-CC 70, SAVANNAH ST. 57: Papa Ba scored 18 to lead three Wildcats (2-11) in double figures. The Tigers (1-18) lost their 13th in a row.
Nation
VILLANOVA 92, BC 89: Allan Ray hit four 3-pointers in a 3:58 second-half stretch and finished with 23 points to spark the visiting Wildcats (9-5, 1-1 Big East). Jared Dudley had 19 points for the Eagles (11-4, 1-2).
VA. TECH 69, W.VA. 67: Zabian Dowdell scored a career-high 20 and Markus Sailes made a layup with 13 seconds left to lift the visiting Hokies (8-5, 1-1 Big East). Patrick Beilein scored a career-high 16 for the Mountaineers (8-5, 1-2).
MICH. ST. 76, PENN ST. 58: Chris Hill had 17 points, including the 1,000th of his three-year career, as the host Spartans (6-7, 1-1 Big Ten) snapped a two-game skid. The Nittany Lions (8-6, 2-1) shot 38 percent and lost for the first time in four games.
RULE CHANGE DELAYED: The NCAA put proposals to extend the 3-point arc and widen the free-throw lane on hold while it tries to determine what impact the changes would have. The changes were recommended by the men's and women's rules committees but were turned down this week by the NCAA executive committee at the association's convention in Nashville.
