No. 3 South Carolina tops Auburn 81-51 behind another strong effort from Edwards

Joyce Edwards scored 20 points as the Gamecocks cruised to victory over the Tigers.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 6:31pm

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The No. 3 ranked South Carolina Gamecocks defeated the Auburn Tigers 81-51 on Thursday night. Joyce Edwards led the way for South Carolina with 20 points, while Tessa Johnson added 13 points and five assists. The Gamecocks jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, forcing 15 Auburn turnovers and holding a 40-22 scoring advantage in the paint.

Why it matters

This win keeps South Carolina in the hunt for the SEC title and a high seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Gamecocks have now won 21 of their first 23 games and are establishing themselves as one of the top teams in the country. For Auburn, the loss is their third straight against a ranked opponent, highlighting the challenges they face in the competitive SEC.

The details

South Carolina shot 50% from the field in the first half and continued their strong play in the second half. The Gamecocks' size and defensive pressure proved to be too much for Auburn, who shot just 30% from the field and committed 15 turnovers. Harissoum Coulibaly, Auburn's leading scorer, was held to just 10 points on 5-of-16 shooting.

  • The game was played on Thursday, January 31, 2026.
  • South Carolina plays at Texas A&M on Monday.

The players

Joyce Edwards

The leading scorer for the South Carolina Gamecocks, who had 20 points and 5 rebounds in the win.

Tessa Johnson

A key contributor for South Carolina, adding 13 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds.

Harissoum Coulibaly

Auburn's leading scorer, who was held to just 10 points on 5-of-16 shooting.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

This game highlighted South Carolina's status as one of the top teams in the country, as they dominated Auburn with their size, defense, and balanced scoring attack. For Auburn, the loss is another setback in their SEC schedule, but they will look to regroup and try to pull off an upset against a ranked opponent in the future.