ATHENS, Ga. (AP) -- Sundiata Gaines scored 27 points while leading Georgia to a big first-half lead, and the Bulldogs went on to an 82-64 rout of South Carolina that snapped a five-game losing streak.

Georgia (12-10, 3-6 Southeastern Conference) won tonight for the first time since an 82-69 victory over Arkansas on January 19th. The Gamecocks (12-11, 3-6) trailed 46-29 at the half and never challenged.

With the Bulldogs down to just seven scholarship players, Gaines has taken the team on his back. The senior guard scored a career-best 32 points in a loss at Florida over the weekend, then equaled the second-best showing of his college career against the Gamecocks.

Gaines scored 19 points in the first half, hitting 4-of-5 from beyond the 3-point stripe.

The Bulldogs, one of the worst-shooting teams in the SEC, made 16 of 28 (57 percent) in the opening period. Georgia dominated in all facets, outrebounding the Gamecocks 20-14, knocking down 8 of 9 at the foul line and hitting 6 of 9 from 3-point range.

The teams split their season series. South Carolina defeated the Bulldogs 62-56 on January 30th, the second of Georgia's five straight losses.

Devan Downey led the Gamecocks with 20 points, while Zam Fredrick added 15.