No. 1 Gamecocks handle Texas A&M;

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Freshman A'ja Wilson scored 18 points, defending SEC player of the year Tiffany Mitchell added 16 points and Alaina Coates had 12 points and 11 rebounds as No. 1 South Carolina remained unbeaten with a 79-61 victory over 12th-ranked Texas A&M on Monday night.

The Gamecocks (19-0, 7-0 SEC), who remained on top of the rankings for a 10th consecutive poll earlier Monday, put away the Aggies with a 27-8 run in the second half after seeing their double-digit lead shrink to 40-38. That's when Mitchell made four consecutive free throws to start the run. She added four more points and Coates scored six points as South Carolina took control.

Texas A&M (16-5, 4-3) had been the last time to beat the Gamecocks at Colonial Life Arena in 2013. But the Aggies struggled shooting as Courtney Williams was 3 of 21 from the field.

Achiri Ade led Texas A&M with 15 points. Courtney Walker, the SEC's fifth-leading scorer, had 10 points, nearly five fewer than her average.

Aleighsa Welch was South Carolina's fourth player with at least 10 points, the senior starter scoring 12 before fouling out in the second half.

Coates, last year's SEC freshman of the year, had her eighth game this season with double figure points and rebounds. Wilson, the 6-foot-5 forward, had nine rebounds and two blocks for the Gamecocks.

South Carolina hasn't had too many problems in SEC play, winning its six previous games by an average of 21 points and just once letting the opponent reach 60 points.

Texas A&M, with the league's fifth and sixth highest scorers in Walker and Williams, figured to test that threshold. And when Williams hit a basket with 7:48 left in the opening half, the Aggies were up 24-20.

That's when the Gamecocks used their size to go a 14-0 run to wrest away control from Texas A&M. The 6-foot-5 Wilson began the surge with a basket before Tina Roy tied things with a driving layup and 6-4 Alaina Coates add another inside bucket to move in front. When Elem Ibiam, another 6-4 forward for South Carolina, hit a layup, the Gamecocks were up 34-24 and cruising.

Texas A&M's Jordan Jones hit a jumper with seven seconds left to cut South Carolina's lead to 39-31 at the half.

Wilson had 11 points in the opening half.

The Aggies opened the used a 7-1 run at the start of the second half to cut the lead to 40-38 before South Carolina's back-breaking run.

TOP 25 MEN

NO. 13 NORTH CAROLINA 93, SYRACUSE 83

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Brice Johnson had 15 of his 17 points after halftime and No. 13 North Carolina shot 55 percent to beat Syracuse.

Nate Britt added a career-best 17 points and four 3-pointers off the bench for the Tar Heels (17-4, 7-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), who pulled away in the final 4 minutes for their sixth consecutive victory. UNC shot 62 percent in the second half and took control once it stopped turning the ball over against the Orange's zone defense.

Johnson was key in UNC's second-half production. After managing just two points on one shot attempt in the first half, the 6-foot-9 junior went 5 for 5 after the break -- including three consecutive baskets in the first 90 seconds of the half -- and finished with 11 rebounds.

By the final horn, UNC had the best shooting percentage and scoring total allowed all season by Syracuse (14-7, 5-3).

Marcus Paige finished with 22 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists to lead the Tar Heels, who won despite committing a season-high 20 turnovers that led to 21 points for Syracuse.

Trevor Cooney matched his season high with 28 points to lead the Orange, while Rakeem Christmas had 22 points and 12 rebounds. But Syracuse couldn't keep up with UNC's offense after halftime once the Tar Heels started protecting the ball, finishing at 43 percent shooting in the first trip to Chapel Hill for Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim and the Orange.

Syracuse led by six midway through the second half before the Tar Heels finally pushed ahead, going in front for good on Britt's 3 near the 8-minute mark.

UNC led 74-72 before using an 8-1 run to finally build a cushion, getting a tip-in from Johnson and two free throws from Paige for an 82-73 lead with 1:32 left.

Sports on 01/27/2015

Upcoming Events