John Fulkerson had 15 points and 10 rebounds and drew a charge with 1.4 seconds left in the second half to preserve Tennessee's 56-55 win over South Carolina in an SEC game Saturday at Knoxville, Tenn.

Following a Tennessee turnover, South Carolina's A.J. Lawson tried to drive the lane but Fulkerson stepped in front of him to gain the whistle. The time expired after the Volunteers inbounded the ball.

Santiago Vescovi had 13 points and Josiah-Jordan James added 10 and six rebounds for Tennessee (10-5, 2-1 SEC).

Maik Kotsar led South Carolina (8-7, 0-2) with 17 points and eight rebounds and Jermaine Cousinard added 15 points.

Vescovi made two free throws with 1:20 left in regulation to increase the Volunteers' lead to 56-52.

After Kotsar sank one of the two free throws, Lawson made a steal for the Gamecocks and drew the foul going to the basket. Lawson made both free throws with 36.5 seconds left to cut the lead to 56-55.

Jordan Bowden missed a 3-pointer but Tennessee kept possession with the ball going out of bounds off South Carolina on the rebound. The Volunteers committed a turnover and Lawson was whistled for the charge near the end of the game.

Neither team led by more than seven points until South Carolina's Trae Hannibal made a free throw with 13:47 left in regulation to put the Gamecocks ahead 39-31.

Vescovi responded for Tennessee with two free throws and a 3-pointer and Fulkerson made a post-up shot to cut the lead to 39-38 with 11:59 remaining.

South Carolina went through a stretch of 6:11 without a field goal until Keshawn Bryant made a dunk in transition with 8:22 left in regulation and Tennessee leading 45-44. The Gamecocks were 0 of 10 from the field and committed four of their 16 turnovers in that span.

Drew Pember and James made 3-pointers on Tennessee's next two possessions to push the lead to 51-44 with 7:23 left.

Kotsar was the only South Carolina player scoring in double figures until Couisnard notched his 11th point on a layup with 6:29 left in regulation to cut the lead to 51-46.

--Field Level Media