Honestly, if you're looking for a South Carolina score basketball fans can't stop talking about, you have to start with what happened this past Thursday at Colonial Life Arena. The No. 2 Gamecocks women's team just barely scraped by No. 4 Texas with a 68-65 win. It was one of those games where you’re holding your breath for the entire fourth quarter. Texas actually led by a point going into the final frame, but Dawn Staley’s squad outscored them 20-16 when it mattered most. Madina Okot hit a massive three-pointer with about three and a half minutes left that basically iced it.
That's the thing about South Carolina right now. Even when they aren't blowing teams out by 40, they find a way.
The Current State of the South Carolina Score Basketball Scene
It is currently mid-January 2026, and the vibe around Columbia is a bit of a tale of two programs. You've got the women’s team, which is sitting at a cool 18-1 overall and 5-0 in the SEC. Their only loss this season was a weird one against No. 2 UCLA back in early January, but they've bounced back like they always do. Then you have the men’s side. Lamont Paris’s group is having a rougher go of it. As of January 17, 2026, the men just dropped a close one on the road at Auburn, 71-67.
It’s frustrating for the fans because the men’s team is sitting at 10-8 overall and a painful 1-4 in conference play. They’ve lost three in a row now—Georgia, Arkansas, and Auburn. They're playing hard, but the SEC is a meat grinder this year.
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Why Dawn Staley’s Numbers Are Actually Ridiculous
People throw around the word "dynasty" a lot. For South Carolina women’s basketball, it’s not hyperbole. Staley has basically turned Columbia into the capital of the sport. Look at the efficiency: in their win over Texas, they shot 63.6% from the field in the third quarter. That isn't just luck; it's elite player development and execution.
- Total Record (2025-26): 18-1
- SEC Standings: 1st (undefeated in league play)
- Home Dominance: Still nearly impossible to beat at Colonial Life Arena.
Madison Booker for Texas put up 24 points in that last game, and it still wasn't enough to take down the Gamecocks. That says everything you need to know about the depth of this roster.
Breaking Down the Men's Recent Struggles
Kinda feels like the men's team is just one or two possessions away from being a tournament lock, but right now, they're on the outside looking in. The 108-74 blowout loss to Arkansas on January 14 was a wake-up call. You can't give up 100+ points in the SEC and expect to survive.
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The Auburn game was better defensively, keeping it to 71, but the offense stalled out in the final minutes.
What’s Next on the Calendar?
If you're tracking the next South Carolina score basketball update, here is what you need to keep an eye on:
- Women's Team: They have a target on their back every single night. Expect them to keep rolling through the SEC schedule, but the upcoming road games are where the real tests lie.
- Men's Team: They desperately need a win to stop the bleeding. They return home to face Oklahoma on Tuesday, January 20. If they don't win that one, the path to the NIT—let alone the Big Dance—becomes incredibly narrow.
The pressure on Lamont Paris is mounting, but he’s shown before that he can coach his way out of a corner. The problem is that the SEC has about five teams in the Top 25 right now, including Vanderbilt and Arkansas, who look legit.
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How to Follow the Scores in Real Time
Don't just rely on the morning highlights. If you want the raw data, the University of South Carolina Athletics site (GamecocksOnline) is the most accurate for box scores. You'll see the shooting percentages, the bench points—which, by the way, the women's team leads the nation in—and the defensive stats.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you are following the spread or just trying to be the smartest person at the sports bar, keep these nuances in mind. The women’s team is 17-1 when they out-rebound their opponent this year. If they control the glass, they win. Period. For the men, watch the turnover margin. In their eight losses, they've averaged nearly 15 turnovers a game. That’s the "South Carolina score basketball" metric that actually determines the outcome.
To stay ahead of the curve, watch the injury reports for the men's backcourt before the Oklahoma game. For the women, keep an eye on how Staley rotates her freshmen. The depth is their greatest weapon, and as we head into February, that fresh-legged rotation is what usually breaks opponents in the second half. Check the live stats during the first half; if the Gamecocks are within 5 points at halftime, their depth usually ensures a double-digit win by the final whistle.