Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina had a loud arena, a tight game with its rival and its beloved football coach, Steve Spurrier, on the floor three minutes before halftime.

Then K.C. Rivers hit two 3-pointers and “dead silence,” Clemson’s sophomore said, smiling.

Rivers’ two long-range baskets, the last coming four seconds before the break, pushed the Tigers’ lead to 31-22 and sent them to their third 9-0 start of the past five seasons after a

74-53 win.

James Mays scored 16 of his 21 points in the second half. But it was Rivers’ shots that turned a 25-22 game toward the Tigers and quieted a crowd that only a few minutes earlier was cheering an on-court appearance by Spurrier.

The Tigers also opened with nine straight wins in 2002-03 and last season. This time, their run includes wins against two Southeastern Conference schools in Mississippi State and South Carolina, and a 90-68 blowout at Minnesota in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge this past Wednesday night.

BC 84, UMass 73

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — Salisbury natives Tyrese Rice and Shamari Spears combined for 27 points as Boston College beat neighbor Massachussets by 11.

Rice, a sophomore point guard, had 17, and Spears, a freshman, contributed 10.