TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- A South Carolina team that had struggled offensively against two of its biggest national title challengers didn't have any such problems early against Alabama.
A'ja Wilson scored 21 points and had nine rebounds to lead No. 7 South Carolina to a 79-66 victory over the Crimson Tide on Thursday night.
The Gamecocks (19-5, 8-3 Southeastern Conference) shot 67 percent in the first half to build a 15-point lead. The defending national champions were coming off losses against the nation's top two teams, No. 1 UConn and No. 2 Mississippi State, but were in control against the Tide (14-10, 4-7) over the final three quarters of this one.