South Carolina Opens Season with Dominant Win Over North Carolina A&T
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina men’s basketball team officially tipped off its 2025-26 campaign Tuesday night, showcasing a completely revamped roster with 12 new faces. The result was promising — a 91-72 victory over North Carolina A&T that offered a glimpse of what’s to come under head coach Lamont Paris.
Offensive Efficiency on Full Display
The Gamecocks wasted no time finding their rhythm offensively, lighting up the scoreboard with precision shooting and unselfish play. South Carolina shot 59.3% from the field in the first half and knocked down 7-of-14 three-pointers. By the final buzzer, they finished at 49.2% from the floor and 43.8% from deep, with five players reaching double digits in scoring.
Their 91-point total tied last year’s season high, which came in an overtime win against Clemson.
Nine different Gamecocks connected on at least one three-pointer, with UC San Diego transfer Nordin Kapic leading the charge, hitting 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Meechie Johnson, a redshirt senior guard, topped the scoring chart with 14 points on 38.4% shooting.
Just as notable was South Carolina’s passing. The team dished out 23 assists — and every player who stepped on the floor recorded at least one. Freshman guard Eli Ellis led the way with five.
Depth on Display
With a roster overhaul, Coach Paris wasted no time experimenting with combinations. Eleven players saw the court Tuesday, with nine logging at least 10 minutes.
Paris’ starting lineup featured Myles Stute at the four, flanked by guards Meechie Johnson, Mike Sharavjamts, and Kobe Knox, while Nordin Kapic held down the five spot. The rotation showcased versatility and balance, hinting at South Carolina’s potential to go deep into its bench as the season progresses.
Room for Growth Inside
If there was one concern from the opener, it was interior defense. The Gamecocks’ lack of size could pose challenges, as only Jordan Butler and Providence transfer Christ Essandoko stand taller than 6-foot-10.
North Carolina A&T capitalized inside, scoring 14 of its 28 first-half points in the paint and adding another 20 down low after halftime. The Aggies also pulled down 31 total rebounds, exploiting South Carolina’s interior gaps.
Up Next for the Gamecocks
South Carolina will return to Colonial Life Arena on Sunday to host Southern Mississippi at 6:30 p.m. (SEC Network). They’ll continue their early-season home stretch with matchups against Presbyterian (Nov. 12) and Radford (Nov. 18) before heading to West Virginia for the Greenbrier Tip-Off, where they’ll face Butler (Nov. 21) and Northwestern (Nov. 23).
With a convincing season-opening win and flashes of cohesion, South Carolina’s new-look roster appears ready to make noise in the early stages of the 2025-26 season.
