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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- John Jenkins scored 21 points and Vanderbilt beat South Carolina 59-48 Wednesday night for its third straight victory.

The Commodores (20-8, 9-4 Southeastern Conference) also won their 20th game, giving them seven such seasons in the past nine, all under coach Kevin Stallings. Vanderbilt stayed in sole possession of third in the SEC, a game behind No. 12 Florida before Saturday's trip to top-ranked Kentucky.

The Commodores won despite a sloppy performance saved mostly by going 23 of 26 at the free-throw line in the second half.

South Carolina (10-17, 2-11) was held to a season-low in points as the Gamecocks lost for the seventh time in eight games.

Festus Ezeli added 14 points and blocked four shots, and Lance Goulbourne added 12 points. Jeffery Taylor, the SEC's second-leading scorer averaging 17.8 points, had a season-low four.

Bruce Ellington led the Gamecocks with 15 points, and Damontre Harris had 10.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)