The Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Cliff Hawkins scored a career-high 21 points and tied his personal best with 11 assists to lead No. 9 Kentucky to an 84-65 victory over South Carolina on Wednesday night.

The Gamecocks had a chance to win at the buzzer at Rupp Arena earlier this year, but the Wildcats put this game away much more quickly.

Kentucky (22-4, 12-3 Southeastern Conference) went on a 17-2 run over a seven-minute span to take a 30-14 lead with 3:45 left in the first half. South Carolina (21-8, 8-7) missed seven of eight shots during the run and committed five turnovers.

Several of the Wildcats' baskets came on the fast break. South Carolina has been known for its pressing defense for most of the season, but Kentucky's running game put the Gamecocks on their heels and opened up the perimeter.

The Wildcats were 9-of-15 from 3-point range at one point, including consecutive 3s from Kelenna Azubuike and Antwain Barbour right after South Carolina got its only points during the first-half run.

Kentucky ended the game shooting 13-of-22 (59.1 percent) from behind the arc, with Hawkins making a career-best five of his seven attempts. The Wildcats shot 31-of-60 (51.7 percent) for the game.

Kentucky hit 10 of its first 14 shots in a 24-9 run to open the second half that gave the Wildcats a 62-33 lead with just over 12 minutes to go.

The Gamecocks outscored Kentucky 14-1 over the next five minutes but couldn't get any closer than 72-57.

Gerald Fitch scored 16 points, including going 4-for-4 on behind the 3-point arch, and had seven rebounds for Kentucky. Erik Daniels added 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting.

Carlos Powell led South Carolina with 15 points and nine rebounds and Brandon Wallace added 13 points.

South Carolina missed center Rolando Howell, who is out with a broken wrist. The Gamecocks never got into an offensive rhythm, settling for contested 3-pointers instead of pounding the ball inside.

The 19-point loss was the biggest this season for the Gamecocks, who played in front of 18,000 people - the largest crowd to ever see a basketball game in the state of South Carolina.

Kentucky, which clinched the SEC East title last weekend, has won 16 of the last 17 meetings between the teams. Florida's win over Georgia on Wednesday assured the Gamecocks can finish no better than third in the East.

Florida 63, Georgia 55

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Matt Walsh made a game-tying 3-pointer, then hit seven free throws down the stretch to lift Florida to its fourth straight win over Georgia.

Walsh led the Gators (18-8, 9-6 SEC) with 22 points, a sweet answer to Georgia fans who heckled him relentlessly two weeks ago during a76-62 loss in Athens - a night marred when Georgia fans spilled onto the court to harass Walsh some more after the game. The Gators haven't lost since.

The day after that loss, swingman Christian Drejer suddenly quit the team, and since then, Florida has gone from a bubble team to a near shoo-in for its sixth straight trip to the NCAA tournament.

The Gators are guaranteed a winning conference record and are likely to finish second in the SEC East and receive a first-round bye in next week's SEC Tournament.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs (14-12, 6-9) lost their second straight after three consecutive wins put them in NCAA contention. Georgia, on a roller-coaster ride of a season, closed its SEC road schedule at 1-7.

Georgia had chances through it all Wednesday but didn't make a field goal over the last 3:07.

Walsh, meanwhile, kept hitting free throws.