GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- When they shook hands after the game, Florida coach Jim McElwain thanked South Carolinas Will Muschamp for what he left behind in Gainesville.On defense anyway.It didnt need to be said. After all, it was evident on the field.Austin Appleby threw two touchdown passes, Jordan Scarlett ran for a career-high 134 yards and the Gators used another solid defensive effort to beat the Gamecocks 20-7 Saturday, moving closer to clinching the Southeastern Conferences Eastern Division.I just said, No. 1, that there were some great defensive players here, McElwain said. He just did an outstanding job.The banged-up Gators (7-2, 5-2; No. 22 AP) can secure a spot in the league title game by winning at 24th-ranked LSU next week. It might be a long shot given Floridas injury situation.McElwain lost nine starters the last two weeks, including four against the Gamecocks (5-5, 3-5). Safety Marcus Maye (arm) is out for the season, and its uncertain whether defensive end Bryan Cox Jr. (ankle), center Tyler Jordan (ankle) and left tackle David Sharpe (leg) will be ready to play against the Tigers.Youve got guys dropping left and right and new guys going in there, McElwain said. I think we sold some extra programs because (fans) didnt know the numbers that were in there. Our new athletic director will be excited about that. Itll help the budget.Florida did just enough to overcome the injuries.Appleby found Cyontai Lewis for a 6-yard score in the first quarter and then floated a perfect pass to Ahmad Fulwood in the corner of the end zone in the second. Eddy Pineiros two field goals in the third, including a 54-yarder, gave the Gators some breathing room.Floridas defense did the rest, allowing just 256 yards while rebounding nicely from a 31-10 loss at Arkansas last week. Most of the players shutting down South Carolina were guys Muschamp signed during his four years (2011-14) in Gainesville.Its about the people, he said. Its not about the logo. Its not about the buildings. Its relationships you build with people over a period of time. A lot of people that still work here at Florida that Im very close with and always will be. As we move forward there will be less players involved, which is probably the better part for me because thats what I really care about.Many thought Floridas former coach would pull off an upset in his return to Gainesville. Instead, the Gamecocks were shut out until scoring with 6:53 left. The loss snapped South Carolinas three-game winning streak.Freshman quarterback Jake Bentley, who played so well in those victories, struggled in his first road start. Bentley completed 18 of 33 passes for 213 yards, with an interception and a fumble.Appleby was slightly more efficient. The former Purdue starter, filling in for injured Luke Del Rio, was 17-of-21 passing for 201 yards. He threw an interception in the third quarter and fumbled a snap, committing two of the teams three turnovers.We could have had 40 points out there if we played the way we are capable of, Appleby said. We will get it fixed.THE TAKEAWAYSouth Carolina: Although the Gamecocks didnt have much offensive success, its clear Muschamp has some young players to build around. Bentley, running back Rico Dowdle and receiver Bryan Edwards -- all freshmen -- should be a solid nucleus for the next few years.Florida: The Gators have endured their share of injures the last two weeks, losing five defensive starters and four on the offensive side of the ball. Some of them wont be back for next weeks all-important game at LSU, leaving Florida to test its depth on the road.POLL IMPLICATIONSFlorida probably will move up a few spots in the next AP poll, but all that matters now is beating the Tigers and getting back to Atlanta.We know whats at stake, Appleby said. We want to go back to Atlanta, and this is the next step in order to get there. Weve got a lot of guys dinged up. With that said, the next mans up.UP NEXTSouth Carolina: After playing five consecutive games at Williams-Brice Stadium before traveling to Florida, the Gamecocks return home to face Western Carolina next Saturday. South Carolina should become bowl-eligible against the Catamounts, a team from the Football Championship Subdivision.Florida: Plays at LSU next Saturday, a game postponed because of Hurricane Matthew in and later moved from Gainesville to Baton Rouge. The Gators were initially slated to host Presbyterian that day. 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NEW ORLEANS -- Ersan Ilyasova sat in one locker room, both feet in ice buckets as he soaked in the afterglow of the Philadelphia 76ers first road victory in nearly 11 months.Down the hall, Pelicans forward Anthony Davis sat in his locker, a black hood pulled up over his head, staring at nothing and clearly conveying his disgust without saying much at all.New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry had a little more to say, even uttering an expletive in response to a question about his job status.Ilyasova scored 23 points, Sergio Rodriguez added 16, and the 76ers snapped a franchise record-tying 23-game road losing streak, beating reeling New Orleans 99-88 on Thursday night.The victory was a gratifying one for Philadelphia coach Brett Brown, who contends his team has been improving, only to come up short in close games.Weve been trending that way, Brown said. We just havent had a win to validate it.The Pelicans became the first team to lose at home to the Sixers (5-18) since last season, when Orlando fell to Philadelphia on Jan. 20. The loss marked a new low for New Orleans (7-16), which was already off to a rough start.When asked if he was concerned about keeping his job, Gentry responded, I dont really give a (expletive) about my job status. Im going to work hard. Im going to coach until the day they tell me Im not the coach anymore. ... That is not anything I spend five seconds worrying about.Davis, who finished with 26 points and 11 rebounds, offered only terse answers to questions, including a yes, when as if he was more frustrated than at any point in his four-plus NBA seasons.Were just not playing right, Davis said. We need to figure out something.Asked for his thoughts on what the Pelicans might change, Davis said, play harder. He also said he thinks Gentry is doing fine.Langston Galloway added 19 points for New Orleans, but the Pelicans made only 12 of 40 shots during the second half en route to a fourth-straight loss and sixth loss in seven.Joel Embiid had 14 points and blocked four shots to go with three steals for Philadelphia, which arrived in New Orlleans on an eight-game skid and had lost all seven of its previous road games this season.ddddddddddddDario Saric highlighted his 13-point night by scoring eight straight Sixers points on an 8-foot floater, a layup while he was fouled and 3-pointer to help Philadelphia quickly turn a tenuous 85-82 lead into a 10-point advantage with 3:50 left.We have to learn how to finish games. Were moving the right way as far as the learning process, Ilyasova said. This game, we tried to focus ourselves as far as being precise, not turn the ball over and be smart offensively.TIP-INSSixers: Nik Stauskas scored 14 points, hitting five of seven shots. ... Forward-center Nerlens Noel, who has not played this season because of a left knee injury, joined the Sixers in New Orleans. Brown has said Noel could play soon. ... The Sixers attempted 40 3s, hitting 12.Pelicans: First-round draft choice Buddy Hield started for a second straight game and for the third time this season, but made only two of 12 shots, hitting both from 3-point range. ... New Orleans was 7 of 25 from deep.SHOOTING SLUMPNew Orleans led 57-52 at halftime, but fell into a fell into a shooting funk in the third quarter, missing 20 of 25 shots. The Sixers hit just eight of 22 shots in the period, but led 71-69 heading into the fourth quarter.We really just laid an egg tonight, Galloway said.MISSING PLAYERSThe Pelicans were short-handed, missing guards Jrue Holiday and ETwaun Moore, who both have toe injuries, but the Sixers have been injury ravaged as well. In addition to Noel, they were without center Jahlil Okafor, guard Jerryd Bayless, and forward Robert Covington, while top overall draft choice Ben Simmons still hasnt even made his debut yet because of a foot fracture.We dont have time to have a pity party or anything like that, Gentry said. Weve got to find a way to correct the mistakes.UP NEXTSixers: Visit Detroit on Sunday.Pelicans: Visit the Clippers on Saturday night. ' ' '