Gamecocks Spur Tigers 34-17 In Palmetto Bowl

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Stephen Garcia threw three touchdown passes and South Carolina’s defense slowed down Clemson star C.J. Spiller in a 34-17 victory over the 15th-ranked Tigers on Saturday.

Spiller opened the game with an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, an NCAA record- setting seventh of his career. But the Gamecocks (7-5) bottled up Spiller and Clemson’s high-scoring offense after that to end the Tigers’ six-game win streak - and their dominance in the rivalry.
   
Clemson (8-4) had won two straight, six out of seven and 10 of 12 against the Gamecocks, who had only one victory over the Tigers in the last 10 games at Williams-Brice Stadium. That changed against a South Carolina defense ranked third in the Southeastern Conference and fresh from a week off.
   
Clemson had just 260 yards of offense, well off the more than 415 it averaged the past six games. Spiller finished with 18 yards rushing and 19 receiving.