In one of the highest-anticipated games of January, South Carolina vs Texas, the matchup delivered every ounce of drama fans had hoped for. The No. 2-ranked Gamecocks hosted No. 4 Longhorns at Colonial Life Arena on Thursday, Jan. 15, with every possession and every shot keeping the crowd on edge. The Gamecocks, riding a 10-game winning streak, refused to break, handing Texas back-to-back losses for the first time since November 2022.

A 68–65 win sealed SC’s 18th victory of the 2025–26 NCAA season and evened the regular-season series with the Longhorns (1-1). Here are three key takeaways from the night.

Turnovers defined the game

Both teams struggled to protect the ball, turning the game into a turnover-heavy battle with 42 turnovers combined. Texas finished with 22 turnovers, while South Carolina had 20 (just one less than their season high), well above their season averages of 10.5 and 12.1, respectively. Those miscues directly influenced the scoreboard as well. The Gamecocks converted 23 points off Texas turnovers, while the Longhorns managed 15 points from South Carolina’s mistakes.

Controlling possessions proved crucial in a tight contest, and the turnover margin helped South Carolina edge out the win.

Shooting struggles turned it into a grind

This wasn’t a game defined by sharpshooting. Texas finished just 1-of-9 from three (11%), while South Carolina wasn’t much better at 4-of-11 (36%). Only Madison Booker for Texas and Tessa Johnson for South Carolina managed to knock down a three-pointer until Madina Okot added her name to this list, in the final few minutes.

For Texas, it wasn’t a shock considering their offensive struggles against SEC opponents. Adding to the concern, one of their most efficient three-point shooters, Jordan Lee, managed just six total field goals across the losses to LSU and South Carolina. Notably, she didn’t attempt a single three-pointer against the Gamecocks.

But as already mentioned, their opponents weren’t much better either. The game was ultimately won in the paint and on the glass. Joyce Edwards led South Carolina with 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals, while Johnson added another 13 points, and Raven Johnson contributed 10, scoring or assisting on 12 of South Carolina’s 20 fourth-quarter points. On the other side, Booker led Texas with a game-high 24 points, with Rori Harmon adding 16 and Lee contributing 10.

On a brighter note, both teams were efficient at the free-throw line. Texas shot an impressive 92%, converting 12 of 13 attempts, while South Carolina went nearly 70%, knocking down 18 of 26 from the stripe.

Late-game poise gave South Carolina the edge

The final stretch of South Carolina vs Texas was a chess match. South Carolina went on a 9–2 run to take a 64–59 lead with just under a minute remaining. And while Madison Booker briefly kept Texas alive with a putback layup off an offensive rebound, cutting the deficit to three, Raven Johnson answered immediately with a floater to restore the Gamecocks’ cushion.

Now, sure, Lee hasn’t been as productive recently, but she still could have mattered in Texas’ final push. Instead, she fouled out with 1:59 left in the fourth quarter, leaving Texas without one of its most reliable shooters and giving South Carolina even more control down the stretch.

At the end, it was a pull-up jumper from Johnson (again!) that sealed the win with 23 seconds remaining.

Despite the Longhorns’ relentless pressure and foul trouble for key players, South Carolina’s composure in the final minute ensured a hard-earned victory, pushing them to 5-0 in the SEC conference.

Bonus Takeaways:

• Freshman Alicia Tournebize from France finally made her Gamecocks debut, entering in the first quarter of the game. While she logged just five minutes on the court, she committed one foul before subbing out for Maddy McDaniel.
• South Carolina and Texas are familiar foes, meeting five times in the past year, including last season’s SEC Tournament and the Final Four. Today’s win marks the Gamecocks’ fourth victory in the last six matchups, reinforcing their dominance in high-pressure conference contests.