COLUMBIA — A’ja Wilson and Alaina Coates each posted double-doubles, and No. 2 South Carolina rallied in the second half Friday for an 88-80 season-opening victory over No. 6 Ohio State before 16,815 at Colonial Life Arena.
South Carolina led by as many as 14 early, but Ohio State clamped down on defense and found its 3-point stroke to claw back into the game. The Buckeyes negated USC’s advantages in height and free-throw shooting by hitting seven 3s in the first half, one by Ameryst Alston in the final seconds to give Ohio State a 47-45 lead at the break.