COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Mark Sears scored 22 points — hitting of 4 of 6 3-pointers — to help No. 5 Alabama beat South Carolina 88-68 on Wednesday night for its seventh straight victory. Aden Holloway added 13 points for the Crimson Tide (13-2, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) in their 10th straight victory over the Gamecocks (10-5, 0-2). Sears scored or assisted on 17 of Alabama’s first 25 points. He finished with six assists and joined Brian Williams as the only players in Alabama history with 1,500 points, 200 3-pointers and 300 assists. Clifford Omoruyi added 10 points and five rebounds. Jacobi Wright led South Carolina (10-5, 0-2) with 20 points. Jamarii Thomas added 15. KEY STATS For the second consecutive game, Carolina struggled behind the 3-point line going just 3-of-14 (21.4 percent). All-SEC forward Collin Murray-Boyles was also held in check again offensively with six points on 1-of-6 shooting. He came into tonight’s game leading the league in field goal percentage and the Gamecocks in points and rebounds. NOTABLES Senior guard Jacobi Wright match his career high with 20 points. He was 7-of-12 from the floor and a perfect 6-for-6 at the charity stripe. Graduate forward Nick Pringle had 13 points and six rebounds against his former team. Senior guard Jamarii Thomas (15) and junior guard Zachary Davis (10) also scored in double figures. UP NEXT The Gamecocks remain home, hosting No. 2/2 Auburn (14-1, 2-0 SEC) on Saturday. Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m. (ET) with Kevin Fitzgerald (pxp) and Pat Bradley (analyst) on the call for the SEC Network broadcast. Carolina will be on the road for both its league games next week (at Vanderbilt and at Oklahoma). Categories: Local Sports, South Carolina Sports, Sports, USC Gamecocks