Clemson picked a real good time to beat a ranked nonconference opponent on the road for the first time in program history.

This victory also comes with big-time in-state bragging rights and Tigers standout senior forward Jaron Blossomgame couldn't help but tweet "Our state #Clemson" after his team posted a 62-60 upset of No. 22 South Carolina on Wednesday night in Columbia, S.C.

Blossomgame contributed 15 points and 10 rebounds and sophomore guard Marcquise Reed hit the tying and go-ahead free throws with 52.5 seconds left as the Tigers (9-2) won their seventh consecutive game.

"Hard-fought rivalry game," Clemson coach Brad Brownell said. "I really thought the kids on both teams competed on a really high level. The physicality in the game was a factor. We knew we'd have to come in and match their physicality. They're as good as anybody we'll play."

Reed hit all six of his free-throw attempts while scoring 14 points for the Tigers. Sophomore forward Elijah Thomas added 12 points and seven rebounds.

Sophomore guard PJ Dozier scored a career-best 26 points and collected eight rebounds, five assists and four steals for the Gamecocks (9-2). Sophomore forward Chris Silva added 14 points for South Carolina, which dropped two of its last three games.

The Gamecocks had an opportunity to win, but Dozier's 3-point attempt bounced off the rim with two seconds left. Junior forward Donte Grantham corralled the rebound to secure the victory for the Tigers.

"Probably should have attacked the rim," Dozier said. "I pulled up for a jump shot, and missed it."

South Carolina shot only 35.5 percent from the field, including 2-of-16 from 3-point range, as it played without leading scorer Sindarius Thornwell (suspension) for the fourth consecutive game.

"We've got to find somebody else to help on the perimeter right now," Gamecocks coach Frank Martin said. "That's going to be our mission as we go into Christmas."

Reed's two key free throws gave Clemson a 59-58 lead. Senior guard Avry Holmes hit two more to make it a three-point margin with 20.3 seconds left.

Dozier made two free throws to pull the South Carolina within 61-60 with 9.8 seconds to play and Holmes split two free throws with 9.2 seconds left prior to the game-ending sequence.

The milestone victory was pleasing to Brownell but he was perhaps more interested in what it might mean to this season's club when resumes are dissected by the NCAA Tournament selection committee.

"They're going to be a team that certainly helps your RPI," Brownell said of the Gamecocks. "To win a game like this is very difficult, and very rewarding."

South Carolina trailed by four points at halftime but came out strong in the second half with six consecutive points to take a 31-29 edge.

The Gamecocks led 46-43 after Silva's three-point play with 8:40 to play but the Tigers regained the lead on Blossomgame's ferocious baseline dunk with 6:29 remaining. However, Blossomgame was given a technical foul for hanging on the rim and Dozier connected on the technical to tie the score at 47.

A basket by Dozier gave South Carolina a 54-50 edge -- its initial four-point lead of the contest -- with 4:07 left. But Blossomgame's tip-in over two Gamecocks moved Clemson within 58-57 lead and fueled a game-ending 7-2 run.

Thomas had eight points and six rebounds and Grantham also had eight points as Clemson held a 29-25 lead at break.

Grantham drained a 3-pointer to give the Tigers a 15-12 lead, and they didn't trail again prior to halftime.

Dozier scored 13 first-half points for the Gamecocks, and his 3-pointer tied the score at 17-17 before Clemson responded with six of the next eight points. The score was later tied at 25 before Thomas hit two free throws and Blossomgame sank a jumper.

NOTES: South Carolina senior G Sindarius Thornwell (team-leading 18.7 scoring average) missed his fourth consecutive game because of a suspension for a violation of team rules. He is expected to be reinstated in early January. ... Clemson senior F Jaron Blossomgame has 1,340 career points, 18th-most in school history. Next up for him to pass is former three-time NBA All-Star Larry Nance (1,341 from 1977-81). ... Gamecocks sophomore G PJ Dozier scored 20 or more points in five straight games. ... The Tigers were victorious over an SEC team for the third time this season. They previously defeated Georgia and Alabama. ... South Carolina senior SG Duane Notice was 1-of-9 from the field and is just 6-of-31 over the past three games. ... Clemson sophomore PG Shelton Mitchell committed seven of his team's 15 turnovers.