FINAL: Florida 70, South Carolina 69

What happened

COLUMBIA, South Carolina – Florida Senior Guard Richard made a layup in traffic with 4.8 seconds left as the fifth-ranked Gators completed a fierce second-half rally of 14 for a stunning 70-69 road victory Wednesday night over South Carolina at Colonial Life Arena.

Richard’s game-winner came after the Gamecocks guard Zachary Davis made one of two free throws with 17.3 seconds remaining, opening the door for the visitors to steal the victory. UF playmaker Walter Clayton Jr. brought the ball into half court and threw it to Richard, curling it at the top of the key. The 6-foot-5 winger had momentum going downhill and pushed his defender, Morris Ugusukon the left side of the lane and made an acrobatic left-handed layup that kissed the glass.

South Carolina Guard Jacobi Wright missed a 30-foot game-winning attempt at the buzzer, denying the Gamecocks their first Southeastern Conference victory of the season and allowing the Gators to escape with a second straight league victory and third road win of the season.

UF trailed by 14, at 52-38, with just over 12 minutes to play and by 11 in 10 minutes when Coach Todd Dore sparked a full-court press that immediately led to a string of seven straight points, including two turnovers that put Richard up 58-51. A 3 by Ugusuk with 6:34 left put the Gamecocks back up nine, but UF’s fifth-year guard Alijah Martin responded with a 3 of their own, followed by a few free throws from Clayton to cut the lead to four with 4:40 left.

South Carolina’s lead was five, 68-63 after a 3 by Davis at the 1:14 mark, but Richard’s corner 3, then a steal and a few free throws from Martin made it 68- with 52 .4 seconds left.

Then came Wright’s 1-for-2 from the line. Then it was Richard who won.

Richard, who scored 14 of his team’s 22 points in the second half, made nine of 14 from the floor, three of five from distance, grabbed four rebounds and had three steals. Clayton had 16 points and seven assists, while also hitting two 3s to set the UF record for most consecutive games with at least one 3-point make at 42. Martin added 14 points and three steals. Davis led the Gamecocks with 22 points, while the forwards Colin Murray Boyles and transfer to Alabama Nick Pringle combined for 22 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, their physicality being one of the main reasons USC was able to build their lead.

Florida’s defense forced 15 turnovers, including 13 steals, as the Gators survived despite giving up 49 percent shooting against a USC team that shot 39.1 percent in its five games against the SEC. UF shot 42.4 percent for the game, outscored South Carolina 22-0 in fast break points, as well as 22-5 in points off turnovers.

What this means

A volt of energy for the program, given the improbability of the outcome. Tiing the best 19-game start in program history (alongside the 2006 and 2007 national championship teams, as well as the 12-13 and 13-14 squads), the Gators took care of business on the road against an injured, scratch, claw the opponent with his back to the wall and seek a first conference victory. There will be much tougher challenges ahead, but championship road wins should always be appreciated and celebrated. Especially last second ones.

In the spotlight

Richard’s game-winners were his 999th and 1,000th career points as a Gator. He is now the 56th UF player to reach the 1,000-point mark in program history.

Stunning statistic

The Gators’ only lead of the game was the one Richard gave them.

Following

Florida (17-2, 4-2) returns to home Saturday for the first of two meetings against Mike White and his Georgia Bulldogs (14-4, 2-3), who played Wednesday night at Arkansas. UGA is significantly improved from last season’s NIT entrant. The Bulldogs beat sixth-ranked Kentucky to enter the Top 25 for the first time in 15 years, but fell out with consecutive losses to top-10 foes Auburn and Tennessee.

Email a senior editor Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu