Late free throws lift USC

South Carolina probably won't be among the nation's best free-throw shooting teams this season.

But the Gamecocks got really hot there at a good time Friday night. And their coach thought that was indicative of something more abstract than a statistic.

Five different players combined to make 11 of 14 foul shots in the final two minutes and South Carolina held off an imposing South Florida lineup 69-66 in the Charleston Classic's championship bracket.

The Gamecocks trailed by six at the half and didn't lead by more than four until less than 10 minutes to go.

"I thought this was a terrific win because of how we had to win it," USC coach Darrin Horn said. "We found out a way to grind out a win against a really talented basketball team. I think that's what good teams do."

Point guard Devan Downey led the Gamecocks with 17 points. Dominique Archie added 15.

USF post Augustus Gilchrist led all scorers, with 19 points.

Downey (three), Archie (two), Sam Muldrow, Ramon Galloway (three) and Brandis Raley (two) combined for those 11 free throws in the last 1:49.

"I think our guys stepped up down the stretch," Horn said. "To me, that's being a team. Guys went to line with confidence. They were shooting them for the team."

The Bulls' size and strength helped them lead early and hang around to make it 58-55 with 2:03 to play.

USF guard Dominique Jones, who finished with 17 points, missed two free throws that could've made it a one- or two-point game entering the last couple of minutes.

Two Jones 3-pointers in the final 20 seconds, including one at the buzzer, made this game look a smidge closer than it really was.

The Gamecocks (4-0) move on to face Miami in Sunday's championship game. Tip is set for 6 p.m.

The game will be televised on ESPN2, but tickets are still available for $20. All seats are general admission inside Carolina First Arena.

Miami moved into the title game by virtue of a 67-60 victory against UNC Wilmington earlier in the day Friday. Malcolm Grant came off the bench to lead the Hurricanes (4-0) with 18 points.

Before the ACC's Hurricanes, South Carolina will get a day to heal up.

"They bang and they're a tough team," Downey said of the beefy Bulls. "It was kind of a slugfest. We knew coming in it would be a slugfest. But we stayed together as a team for 40 minutes. Not 35, not 39, but 40."

Gilchrist and Jarrid Famous -- both 6-10 -- provided a front-line challenge for South Carolina.

Gamecocks junior Mike Holmes was game at times to exchange body blows, but he ran into foul trouble in both halves. He fouled out with 2:48 to go, battling for every one of his eight points and eight rebounds in 16 minutes.

"It's hard to shoot over 6-10," Holmes said. "It was pretty challenging. We had to get together as a team."

A rotation of Holmes, Sam Muldrow (three fouls), Austin Steed (three fouls) and Johndre Jefferson (two fouls) rolled through to eventually command the low block in the USF's half-court offense.

Muldrow had six of the team's seven blocks, and Horn said he affected other shots.

The Bulls went from 52 percent shooting in the first half to 34.8 percent (8-23) in the second.

"I think that helped," Horn said. "I don't think there's any question."

South Carolina won despite hitting 2-of-17 3-pointers, missing all eight in the first half. Archie finally got one early in the second half to snap the skid.

"I didn't even realize that was the first one," said the senior, who topped 1,000 career points Friday. "I was open and took the shot."

Raley hit the other, also at a critical point. Just after USC got its first lead of the second half -- and the first since the 18:06 mark in the first half -- he pump-faked and knocked down the 3 from the corner to put South Carolina ahead 47-43.

Trailing 35-29 at the half, Horn said the Gamecocks talked zero basketball in the locker room. The message? Stick together, play as a team.

"I thought for the last 20 minutes of the game," Horn said, "we did that."

Reach Travis Haney at thaney@postandcourier.com and check out the South Carolina blog at www.postandcourier.com/blogs/gamecocks.