No. 2 South Carolina Gamecocks Knock Off No. 4 Texas Longhorns

In a game that felt less like a basketball game and more like a heavyweight boxing bout where both fighters forgot how to block, the No. 2 South Carolina Gamecocks managed to scrap, claw, and hustle their way to a 68-65 victory over No. 4 Texas. It wasn’t pretty, but in the SEC, style points don’t appear on the scoreboard.

For Dawn Staley’s squad, this was about survival. It was about avenging their only loss of the season. And ultimately, it was about proving that even when the offense looks like it’s stuck in mud, South Carolina knows how to win when the lights are brightest.

South Carolina Finds a Hero In the Unlikeliest Place

When the game is on the line, usually you’re looking for your guards to create magic. But the basketball gods have a sense of humor.

Texas, utilizing a strategy that can only be described as “I dare you,” left Center Madina Okot all alone on the perimeter. It was a gamble. It was a calculated risk. And boy, did it backfire.

Okot, who isn’t exactly Steph Curry out there, didn’t hesitate. She stepped into a three-pointer, only her third of the season, and buried it. That shot gave South Carolina a 61-57 lead and sent the sellout crowd into absolute delirium. It was the spark the team desperately needed, a moment of offensive clarity in a game that had been defined by defensive chaos.

Raven Johnson: The Closer

While Okot provided the shock factor, it was Raven Johnson who provided the stability. When things got shaky in the final minute, Johnson decided it was time to put the team on her back.

With just over a minute left and the game still teetering on the edge, Johnson went to work. She backed down Texas Guard Rori Harmon, milked the clock like a veteran, and hit a spin move followed by a pump-fake that probably had defenders jumping into the front row. She scored right before the buzzer, extending the lead.

Moments later, she hit a floater in the lane to restore a five-point cushion. It was a masterclass in composure from the senior guard. In a game where everyone seemed to be throwing the ball away, Johnson held onto the moment.

Defense, Turnovers, and the “Ugly Win”

Let’s address the elephant in the room: the turnovers. If you like pristine, fluid offensive sets, this game was essentially a horror movie. Both teams seemed determined to hand the ball to the other side, combining for over 40 turnovers. Texas coughed it up 22 times; South Carolina wasn’t much better with 20. At times, it looked like a game of hot potato.

But here is where the South Carolina defense separates itself. Despite the offensive struggles, they never let up on the other end. Joyce Edwards was a menace, racking up three steals. The freshman sensation also hit clutch free throws down the stretch when her number was called.

The first half was a grind, ending in a 32-32 deadlock that felt entirely appropriate given the play on the court. Texas utilized a full-court press that clearly flustered the Gamecocks early on, but Staley made the adjustments. They stopped trying to throw daring home-run passes and started breaking the press with dribble penetration, led by Edwards handling the rock.

The Big Picture For South Carolina

This win moves South Carolina to 18-1 and keeps them perfect in the SEC at 5-0. But more importantly, it was a psychological hurdle cleared. Texas had beaten them earlier in the season. Texas had the physicality to match them.

For a moment, it looked like the Longhorns might have the Gamecocks’ number. But great teams find a way to win when they aren’t playing their best. They find a way to win when the star players are cold, when the turnovers are piling up, and when the opponent is hitting shots.

We also got a tiny glimpse of the future with the debut of French transfer Alicia Tournebize. She only played a handful of minutes and didn’t stuff the stat sheet, but seeing the 6-foot-7 forward on the floor adds yet another weapon to Staley’s already terrifying arsenal.

So, take a breath, Gamecock fans. It wasn’t a masterpiece. It won’t be framed in the Louvre. But it’s a win against a top-5 team. And in March, nobody asks how pretty the wins were—they just ask how many you got.