South Carolina 76, Presbyterian 60: Brian Richardson matched a career high with 17 points and Damien Leonard added a season-high 15 off the bench as the host Gamecocks breezed to a season-best fourth consecutive win.

Mindaugas Kacinas added 13 points and Lakeem Jackson chipped in with 10 for South Carolina (9-3), which has won 32 of 39 all-time meetings between the in-state foes, including all four since its last loss to the Blue Hose in 1943.

Presbyterian (2-11) held its only lead at 2-0, as the Gamecocks used an 8-0 run to gain some breathing room and extended the margin to 40-24 by halftime.

The Blue Hose, who have not defeated a Division I team this season, pulled within 63-54 with 4:19 left. South Carolina responded by scoring five quick points in a sequence that included a technical foul and ejection for Presbyterian coach Gregg Nibert, who was tossed after arguing a foul call against Jordan Downing.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Gamecocks G LaShay Page (11.7 points per game) was held out for a second game for what the school is calling "an academic issue." The Gamecocks also were without G Bruce Ellington, who will not return to the basketball team until after the football team plays in the Outback Bowl on Tuesday. … South Carolina improved to 71-16 all-time against current members of the Big South Conference, while Presbyterian dropped to 1-10 against SEC teams since moving to NCAA Division I in 2007. … Richardson has scored in double digits in three of the past four games after doing so only twice in the first eight.