The South Carolina Gamecocks had a historic night in Paris, France on Saturday, as they defeated the No. 10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 100-71. The Gamecocks were led by freshman guard AJ Cardoso, who had a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
The Gamecocks came out of the gates hot, jumping out to an early lead and never looking back. They held the Fighting Irish to just 37% shooting from the field, while shooting an impressive 53% themselves. Cardoso was the star of the night, as he was able to get to the basket at will and finish through contact. He also showed off his range, knocking down two three-pointers in the first half.
The Gamecocks were able to spread the ball around, with four players scoring in double figures. Senior guard Hassani Gravett had 17 points and five assists, while freshman forward Keyshawn Bryant added 15 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore forward Maik Kotsar also had a solid game, finishing with 14 points and seven rebounds.
The win was a big one for South Carolina, as it was their first win over a top-10 team since 2017. It was also their first win in Paris since 2015. The win also moved the Gamecocks to 4-1 on the season, and they will look to continue their success when they take on No. 17 Mississippi State on Tuesday.
Cardoso’s performance was a huge boost for South Carolina, and it shows that he is capable of being a difference-maker for this team. If he can continue to play at this level, the Gamecocks could be a force to be reckoned with in the SEC this season.
