20 wins!

Early turnovers plagued Tennessee (No. 18 ESPN/USA Today, No. 20 AP) in the first half, but a late 17-3 run proved too much down the stretch as the Vols (20-6, 8-4) defeated Southeastern Conference foe South Carolina (14-12, 5-7) by a score of 63-55 in Columbia.

The win gives Tennessee its magical 20th win of the year against only six losses. Although, it’s Tennessee fifth consecutive 20-win season, it’s just the program’s 23rd of all time. For Bruce Pearl, he tops the 20-win mark for the 17th time in 18 seasons as a head coach.

Bobby Maze took advantage of a team-leading 33 minutes on the floor and led Tennessee with 14 points. It was the second straight game that Maze saw action at shooting guard in addition to point guard.

South Carolina, who was 11-2 at home heading into the game, was led in scoring by Brandis Raley-Ross who had 16 points. Meanwhile, Devan Downey, one of the league’s most prolific scorers, was held to just 15 points. It was Downey’s lowest output in a conference game this season.

As was the case earlier this year in Knoxville, Bobby Maze prevented Downy from taking over.

“I just wanted to come out and make a statement defensively,” Maze said after the game. “That was one of my biggest challenges last season. Coach, he asked about my effort on defense.”

“I couldn’t have done it without my teammates,” Maze added. “It was a good team effort.”

Senior Wayne Chism scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds while J.P. Prince finished with 10. Scotty Hopson and Kenny Hall each added eight.

Foul trouble was an issue in the first half for Tennessee. Wayne Chism and J.P. Prince both sat out valuable minutes. Chism committed two first half fouls and Prince was whistled for three.

But in their absence, Tennessee’s bench stepped up with solid minutes.

“Kenny played, Brian played, Stephen Pearl played.” Pearl said. “And they were out there at times when we were down, significantly. You just hang in knowing the game is played at the end.”

Meanwhile, one of the nation’s top-ranked teams in turnover margin, the Vols struggled to keep possession. With 11:19 remaining in the first half, Scotty Hopson traveled with the basketball, committing the Vols’ sixth consecutive turnover. It was the team’s eighth turnover in the first nine minutes of play.

But as sloppy as the Vols played, the deficit was only four points at the half despite allowing the Gamecocks 13 more field goal attempts.

In the second half, the game remained close until J.P. Prince made two free throws that would spark a 17-3 run.

Kenny Hall’s two-handed dunk off of a spectacular pass from Wayne Chism put Tennessee ahead 47-46 with 8:15 to play, a lead it would not relinquish.

“I’m starting to like this place a little bit,” Pearl joked. “This is four out of five.”