COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Mason Zandi was grateful his South Carolina teammates dug when it wouldve been easy to give in. The result has the Gamecocks back in the postseason after missing out last season.The Gamecocks (6-5) won for the fourth time in the past five games to become bowl eligible with a 44-31 victory over Western Carolina on Saturday night. Zandi always believed, even with his team at 2-4 and facing several big challenges, South Carolina would succeed.We came together as a team. Nobody points fingers at each other. Nobody says, `Oh, woe is me, Zandi, the left tackle, said. Im incredibly proud to play next to these people.And Zandi, a fifth-year senior, will have one additional game to savor.Deebo Samuel scored three touchdowns, including a 100-yard kickoff return, while Rico Dowdle ran for 226 yards and two scores in South Carolinas win.Samuel, the sophomore receiver, made his mark in the running game with a pair of 2-yard TD runs and with his dazzling return on a first-quarter kickoff as the Gamecocks (6-5) doubled their win total from a year ago.This is a huge relief for us, Zandi said. Its even bigger for the program moving forward.The Catamounts (2-9) of the FCS Southern Conference kept denting the Gamecocks defense and were within 41-31 after Detrez Newsomes 93-yard kickoff return touchdown with 9:13 to go.But South Carolina was able to hold on and avoid the embarrassment of a second straight FCS defeat after falling to Citadel 23-22 in their 3-9 season last fall.At the end of the day, we needed to get to a bowl game, first-year South Carolina coach Will Muschamp said . It was really important with where we were after our first games.Freshman tailback Dowdle had a 43-yard touchdown run on South Carolinas opening series, then a 1-yard TD rush on the teams next series. He has rushed for over 100 yards in three of the past four games.Dowdles total yards were the most since Gamecocks great Marcus Lattimore gained 246 in a win over Navy in 2011.A.J. Turner added 97 yards rushing for South Carolina, which ran for 422 yards, its highest total since gaining 352 yards rushing against Coastal Carolina in 2013.Western Carolina fell to 0-52 against Football Bowl Subdivision teams and 0-19 all-time against Southeastern Conference opponents.THE TAKEAWAYDespite an early flourish, Western Carolina was overrun by its quicker, stronger FBS opponent. But the FCS school, which received $400,000 to come to South Carolina, has several FBS teams on upcoming schedules. Next year, the Catamounts play Hawaii and North Carolina. In 2018, its the Tar Heels again before facing North Carolina State in 2019.South Carolina is still getting its feet wet under new coach Will Muschamp. Where more advanced SEC teams mightve run from the Catamounts at the start, the young Gamecocks needed some time to get going before securing the win. Thats a big reason the coach wanted his team to qualify for the bowl -- the extra weeks of prep, planning, film study and practice the postseason gives his building program.FCS BACKERWestern Carolina coach Mark Speir said he hears all the time that SEC teams should not take on FCS teams like the Catamounts. This was a great game, said Speir, whose team scored more points on the Gamecocks than any other this season. I think the fans had a great time. Thirty-three of our players got a scholarship to come to Western Carolina because South Carolina gave us the opportunity to come down here and play.SAMUELS SWEEPReceiver Deebo Samuel has been an effective scorer for South Carolina near the goal line. He had two touchdowns near the goal line, running a patented jet-sweep play. That jet sweep has been money for us, Samuel said, smiling.How long did it take Muschamp and the offensive staff to know Samuel could be effective in the red zone? After about the third day of spring practice, Muschamp said.UP NEXTWestern Carolinas season is finished.South Carolina plays at Clemson on Saturday, trying to end a two-game losing streak to its rival. Wholesale Hockey Jerseys China . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys .C. -- Charlotte Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said after all of these years in the NBA hes still amazed at some of the things LeBron James does. http://www.wholesalenhljerseys.us/ . Ryan Garbutt had a goal and two assists as Dallas snapped a six-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. Wholesale NHL Jerseys Authentic . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. Cheap NHL Jerseys China . The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Davon Reed scored 17 points, JaQuan Newton had 16 points and a career-high seven assists, and Miami cruised past North Florida 94-56 on Wednesday night.Miami started the game on a 7-0 run, went on a 14-0 spurt for a 35-16 lead and held its advantage throughout. North Florida went scoreless during a 7-minute stretch in the first half and only scored four points in the final 11 minutes of the period to trail 48-20 at the break.The Hurricanes opened the second half on an 11-0 run and Newtons sixth assist led to a Bruce Brown basket that gave Miami a 67-27 lead with 12:06 left in the second half.Freshmen Dewan Huell and DJ Vasiljevic scored in double figures for Miami (2-0). Huell had 15 points and eight rebounds, and Vasiljevic added 13 points. Anthony Lawrence Jr. chipped in 10 points.Dallas Moore led North Florida (1-2) with 12 points. Freshman Wajid Aminu had a career-high 11 points and six rebounds, and Garrett Sams added 10 points. The Ospreys were held to 34.4 percent shooting and were outreboundeed 46-31.dddddddddddde had some chances when the score was 21-16 to get even closer and we just didnt convert, North Florida coach Matthew Driscoll said. I told the guys in games like this you have to make those plays because thats what good teams do. Give Miami credit for doing what they had to do, not only in defending Dallas, but also against our whole team.HIGH SCORINGIn back-to-back games, the Hurricanes have scored 90-plus-points -- including 92 against Western Carolina in its opener. The last time that occurred for Miami was against Mississippi State (105) and Utah (90) in November of 2015.BENCH PLAYERSNorth Florida: Moore and Romelo Banks, who scored nine points, were the only starters for UNF to score in the game. ... UNFs bench outscored the starters 35-21.UP NEXTMiami: Hosts Penn on Saturday.North Florida: Will play its fourth game in an eight-day span when it plays at LSU on Friday. 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