South Carolina
Texas A&M
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (02/02/2026) — The No. 3 South Carolina Gamecocks overcame a second-half surge from the Texas A&M Aggies to secure a 71-56 road victory at Reed Arena on Monday night, maintaining their strong position in the Southeastern Conference standings.
HOW IT HAPPENED
South Carolina established control early, building a significant 16-point lead by the third quarter on the back of efficient first-half shooting. The Gamecocks shot a blistering 56.5% in the opening half, setting the tone for what appeared to be a comfortable win. However, the Aggies mounted a spirited comeback, clamping down defensively and holding South Carolina to just 33% from the field in the second half. A late third-quarter push, capped by a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Ny'ceara Pryor, cut the Gamecocks' lead to 55-47 heading into the final frame.
The Aggies continued to chip away at the deficit, pulling within four points in the fourth quarter and putting the pressure on the visiting Gamecocks. Despite the momentum shift, South Carolina's experience and talent shone through when it mattered most, weathering the storm before reasserting control to close out the game.
TURNING POINT
With their once-comfortable lead trimmed to just five points in the final minutes, the Gamecocks turned to their star player to seal the victory. Joyce Edwards erupted for eight points as part of a decisive 9-0 South Carolina run. That offensive burst pushed the lead to 67-53 with under two minutes to play, effectively ending the Aggies' comeback hopes and securing the hard-fought conference win for the Gamecocks.
STAR OF THE GAME
Joyce Edwards was the unquestioned leader for South Carolina, delivering a dominant performance on both ends of the floor. Edwards finished with a game-high 28 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for a crucial double-double. She was particularly vital in the clutch, scoring the key baskets that halted Texas A&M's momentum. Tessa Johnson also provided a major offensive spark, pouring in 19 points and tying her career-high with five three-pointers, all of which came in the first half.
For the Texas A&M Aggies, Ny'ceara Pryor led the scoring effort with 14 points.
WHAT IT MEANS
The victory improves South Carolina's record to 22-2 on the season and 8-1 in SEC play, keeping them at the top of the conference standings. The win came despite the Gamecocks being shorthanded, as they were missing two starters due to injury. The ability to overcome adversity on the road against a determined conference opponent speaks to the team's resilience.
For Texas A&M, the loss marks their sixth consecutive defeat, dropping them to 8-10 overall and 1-8 in the SEC. Despite the loss, the Aggies showed significant fight, performing much better than in their recent stretch of games where they had lost four of the previous five by 25 points or more.