South Carolina 79, Mississippi State 72: Brenton Williams scored a career-high 38 points, including a career-best six 3-pointers, to lead the Gamecocks over the visiting Bulldogs.

Williams was 10-for-17 from the field for the game, 12-for-12 from the free-throw line and 6-for-9 from beyond the arc for South Carolina, which won for the second time in its last 11 games. Lakeem Jackson added nine points and a game-high eight rebounds for the Gamecocks (14-16, 4-13 SEC).

Craig Sword led the offense for Mississippi State, scoring 20 points and Jalen Steele added 17 before leaving with an apparent right knee injury in the waning minutes. The Bulldogs (8-21, 3-14) lost one game after snapping a 13-game skid with a victory against Ole Miss.

South Carolina jumped out to an early lead before a Mississippi State 10-2 run, capped by a Gavin Ware jumper, gave the Bulldogs their first lead. The Gamecocks led 34-32 at halftime, and South Carolina got early 3-pointers from Bruce Ellington and Brian Steele while Mississippi State went ice cold, connecting on only one of their first seven field goal attempts in to start the second half.

Ellington finished with nine points and a game-high six assists for the Gamecocks, who will close out the regular season Saturday at Vanderbilt. Leading scorer Michael Carrera, who finished with just four points before fouling out, saw his minutes limited after picking up four first-half fouls.

GAME NOTEBOOK: South Carolina had lost seven straight against Mississippi State, including three in a row at home. ... Williams' effort marked the first 30-point performance for a Gamecock since December 2010. ... South Carolina's bench outscored Mississippi State's reserves 49-29.