No. 1 South Carolina just battled its way to an absolute thriller, knocking off No. 3 USC 89-85 on Sunday in Greenville. Yeah, Tessa Johnson dropped a career-high 28 points, straight-up outdueling USC star JuJu Watkins, but honestly, that wasn’t even the wildest part of this one.
Johnson Took Over, But USC Wouldn’t Quit
You knew this “Battle for SC” was gonna be a slugfest. South Carolina took a 49-45 lead into halftime, but USC was right there, clawing back. Watkins hit a layup midway through the third, cutting the lead to just three. Did that rattle the Gamecocks? Nah. They fired back with a 12-5 run over the next three minutes, pushing their lead to 67-57. But hold up, baskets from Laura Williams and Saniyah Hall trimmed that deficit to six points going into the fourth quarter. This game was just getting started, seriously.
The 15.6 Second Play That Decided Everything
If you thought the third quarter was intense, the fourth was pure chaos. The Trojans weren’t done, not by a long shot. Watkins, cool as ice, hit four free throws, and suddenly South Carolina’s lead was just 74-72. Two points! The No. 1 team on the ropes, right? But again, the Gamecocks punched back, scoring the next six points to get their advantage back to eight at the five-minute mark. Think it was over then? Nope! USC went on a ridiculous 10-1 surge in the final two minutes, with Watkins hitting a jumper to make it 87-85 with only 42 seconds left. My heart was pounding, was yours?
Then came the play that everyone’s gonna be talking about. Jordan Lee turned the ball over for the Gamecocks, a potential game-loser! But Lee, a hero in the making, chased it down court and blocked Watkins’ layup attempt. Pure grit! The refs initially said USC ball, but South Carolina challenged that call. And replay confirmed it: the ball went off Watkins with only 15.6 seconds left on the clock. That’s it. Trojans robbed of a chance to tie or take the lead. Unbelievable drama.
Why This “Battle for SC” Is Always Heating Up
This isn’t the first time these two powerhouses have squared off, and it always feels like this. Last year, South Carolina beat USC 69-52 in an early-season game in Los Angeles. They even met up again in the NCAA tournament, with the Gamecocks blowing them out 101-61 in the second round. Crazy thing is, Watkins didn’t even play in either of those games, she was recovering from a torn right ACL. Imagine her adding to that firepower last year!
And the whole “Battle for SC” thing? It’s not just a cute nickname. This trademark dispute over interlocking “SC” logos goes all the way back to 2008, with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ruling in favor of Southern Cal. South Carolina appealed it to the Supreme Court, but the Trojans’ claim was upheld. Even so, the Gamecocks went back to using the “USC” acronym for their branding in 2022 after trying “UofSC” for three years. So yeah, this rivalry is deep, on and off the court!
So, No. 1 South Carolina survives an absolute war with No. 3 USC, 89-85. This early-season clash was a statement, showing everyone why these teams are at the top. You just know these two are gonna be on a collision course again, maybe even when the stakes are even higher. What a game. What a start to the season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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