Instant reaction from the South Carolina Gamecocks' 88-66 win over the High Point Panthers in the opening round of the NIT:
1. The challenge for the Gamecocks was to overcome the suspension of five players and work with a depleted bench. And, to start, it looked like they would, opening up a 31-13 lead with 9:10 left in the first as they delivered a steady diet of good interior play and strong rebounding. Despite the Panthers cutting it to 48-43 at halftime - helped by a 30-17 run and some red-hot three-point shooting - the Gamecocks got back to basics: working it down low and getting easy looks inside while clamping down on defense, icing the game with a 20-0 run midway through the second.