COLUMBIA — There were moments when it truly looked like a new era of South Carolina basketball. And there were others when it looked like the same old grind.
The Gamecocks provided evidence of both Saturday, when they held off Norfolk State to win their season opener 89-64 at Colonial Life Arena. Freshman Chris Silva enjoyed a promising debut with 12 points, nine rebounds and two spectacular dunks, while Duane Notice and Sindarius Thornwell led USC with 14 each.
South Carolina returned four starters from last season’s team, which posted the program’s first winning record in six years.