Steve Taneyhill gave the Gamecocks an early lead with his touchdown pass to Boomer Foster with 12:34 remaining in the first quarter.
Lovett Purnell caught a touchdown pass from Chad Johnston to make it 17–14 in the third quarter.
Pritchett was going for his second touchdown run when he broke free, but Aaron Beasley stripped him of the ball, and the Mountaineers recovered at their own 3 with 1:14 remaining.
South Carolina had won their first ever bowl game while West Virginia now had lost five straight.
After the organizers of the Orange Bowl announced plans to move their game to Joe Robbie Stadium, the bowl lost its New Year’s Day slot; CBS decided not to renew its contract to air the game, which moved to TBS for its next playing.