ATHENS, Ga. (AP) _ Marius Petravicius scored 17 points and Jamel Bradley hit a key 3-pointer to build a late four-point lead as South Carolina snapped a three-game losing streak with a 64-56 victory over Georgia on Saturday.

The loss prevented Georgia from clinching third place in the Southeastern Conference East Division and dealt a blow to its hopes of securing a berth in the NCAA tournament.

South Carolina (14-11, 6-8) took advantage of poor ballhandling by the Bulldogs (15-12, 8-6) to control the game most of the way. Georgia had only five leads in the game, one with the opening basket and last at 50-49 on a 3-pointer by Ezra Williams with 7:31 to play.

Two free throws by Tony Kitchings with 7:13 remaining gave the Gamecocks the lead for good.

Antonio Grant added 14 points and Kitchings 10 for Carolina.

Williams led Georgia with 16 points.

Georgia cut the lead to 57-56 on a basket by Anthony Evans with 2:10 remaining, but Georgia never scored again. Bradley hit the key 3-pointer with 1:37 remaining and the Gamecocks put it away by hitting four of seven free throws in the final minute, while Georgia's D.A. Layne misfired on three 3-pointers in the final 38 seconds.

The Bulldogs had 18 turnovers and shot only 41.5 percent.