With a hot hand and an icy glare, Erving Walker led UF on the road to redemption.
The freshman, who turned the ball over five times during the UF's last meeting with South Carolina, finished with a career-high 18 points and four assists while knocking down three shots from 3-point range as the Gators (19-4, 6-2 Southeastern Conference) beat the Gamecocks(16-5, 5-3 SEC) 97-93.
"It would have hurt to lose two (games) in one week," Walker said. "We didn't want to lose to these guys again."
The Gators had six players score in double figures on a night when the game was tied on 17 separate occasions.
With the victory and Kentucky's loss to Mississippi State, UF now has sole possession of the lead in the SEC East.
South Carolina had won four straight coming into the game.
Forward Chandler Parsons cried in the locker room after the Gators loss to the Gamecocks on Jan. 21.
As he walked off the court Tuesday night, the sophomore couldn't help but crack a smile.
Parsons finished the game with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
"I felt like someone stole something from me," Parsons said. "That game was a bad memory, but I think we've learned from it."
Sophomore center Alex Tyus stood tall in the paint, scoring 19 points and grabbing seven rebounds.
The two teams traded baskets in a first half that saw UF take a 49-45 lead into the locker room.
But South Carolina started the second half with a 7-2 run in which the Gamecocks took a 52-51 lead over the Gators.
With the scored tied 72-72, UF went on a 5-0 run in which the Gators began to separate themselves for the first time. They wouldn't give up the lead again.
Senior guard Walter Hodge made several crucial free throws down the stretch and finished 5 of 7 from the line.
"They made some big shots, but we came down and made our free throws when it counted," said sophomore guard Nick Calathes, who finished with 22 points, six rebounds and five assists on the night.
South Carolina turned the ball over 17 times, while UF capitalized on Gamecocks fouls and controlled the game down the stretch.
Gamecocks guard Devan Downey kept his team alive late in the game, scoring 33 points and going 7 of 9 from 3-point range.
"I looked at him and I was in awe," Parsons said.
