The plane carrying the University of South Carolina men’s basketball team — make that the Southeastern Conference champions – descended from a dark cloud above Columbia Metropolitan Airport.

The nearly 5,000 fans waiting on the Gamecocks went wild. Again.

The mayhem in Columbia had started shortly after noon Sunday, when the Gamecocks showed no fear in the University of Kentucky’s storied Rupp Arena.

The Gamecocks opened an early 17-6 lead, fell behind by four, but rallied to win 72-66. Four free throws with .4 seconds left – two each by B.J. McKie and Larry Davis – ensured the Gamecocks wouldn’t share their conference title with the Wildcats.

It was another improbable win for a team that has excited fans all year. After five losses in December, the Gamecocks trounced the SEC in 1997. During the season’s last 15 days alone, USC defeated two top-10 teams – on the road.

Sunday’s win was the biggest. The Gamecocks ended No. 3- ranked Kentucky’s 27-game home winning streak and became the first visiting team in 33 years to win on Kentucky’s Senior Day.

Afterwards, in living rooms throughout the Midlands, fans jumped on sofas and hugged anyone who happened to be around. “I had my Bible in my hand, crying and jumping up and down,” said Lynn Sligh of Elgin.

Lynn Conley said he had to take some medication after the game. “My blood pressure went up and I got a headache,” the long-time Gamecock fan said.

But that didn’t keep him from heading to the airport Sunday afternoon.

Danny Henderson and his 15-year-old son, Derek, watched the game in their Lyman home. Dad had said if the Gamecocks won, he’d drive Derek to Columbia to greet the team at the airport.

“I didn’t think they would win,” the elder Henderson said. “As soon as they won, my son said, ‘Let’s go.'”

Less than two hours later, they waited outside a fence at Columbia’s airport. Officials estimated nearly 5,000 fans – about the same number who showed up for the UNC-Asheville defeat at Carolina Coliseum in December – had gathered by the time the plane landed at 5:30 p.m.

Fans, USC cheerleaders, mascot Cocky and pep band members had cheered for up to three hours by then. As the USAir Express plane taxied before the crowd, coaches and players peered through the small windows. They saw dozens of garnet flags, homemade posters and cheering fans clad in garnet and black. One of those fans was Bob Fulton, long-time “Voice of the Gamecocks” who had a front- row spot.

“Well, I told fans all those years to come out,” he said. “Now, I figure I should, too.”

No one had to recruit fans Sunday.

Bill Rosendahl was there waving a big banner. He works Sundays as the frozen food manager at the Kroger store on U.S. 1 in West Columbia. Work can wait a while, he told his bosses.

Going to the airport to greet Carolina’s team is a habit for Brian Specht, a USC junior from Hartsville. He’s been going out there after every road game since January.

Ron and Holly Capps of Cayce found a spot up front next to William and Linda St. Louis. They arrived strangers. “We’re best friends now,” Holly Capps said.

Out on the tarmac, not even the plane’s loud propellers could muzzle the fans’ cheers. The players huddled under a wing of the plane and gazed at the sea of fans.

USC coach Eddie Fogler joked with the fans that they should stop cheering. “You might give them a big head,” he said.

Davis, who scored 20 points, held up a full-page advertisement from a Kentucky newspaper. “Blow Out the Cocks,” it said. Seems Wildcat fans were looking for revenge from Kentucky’s Feb. 4 loss in Columbia.

“We don’t want to stop here,” Davis said. “We’re not satisfied yet.”

McKie, an Irmo native who scored 22 points and had three assists, said the team had heard about the horde of fans awaiting them before landing. “It’s a great feeling, knowing everyone was here for us,” McKie said. “We’ve got great fans here.”

The players said it was especially nice to see friendly faces after dealing with more than 24,000 unfriendly types in Rupp Arena.

“It feels great to come home and see the friendly faces of the people who have supported us all year,” Melvin Watson said.

McKie and Davis had to be pulled away from the fans. They were doling out high-fives, signing balls and exchanging smiles.

“This is great,” Davis said.