South-Carolina
Texas travels to face South Carolina for another must-win game
After playing 13 games in 42 days to start SEC play, the Texas Longhorns received some respite from the conference’s brutal physicality with no midweek game prior to Saturday’s contest against the South Carolina Gamecocks in Columbia.
Not only did the break come after an important home victory over then-No. 15 Kentucky, 82-78, the chance for players to heal banged-up bodies sets Texas up for a more healthy finish to the final five SEC games prior to the conference tournament.
To that end, the Longhorns received two full days off after beating the Wildcats before participating in a short practice on Tuesday.
“For us, this bye week couldn’t come at a better time for us — we’re still in the process of mending,” Texas head coach Rodney Terry said on Tuesday.
Senior forward Arthur Kaluma only played 11 minutes in the blowout loss to Alabama on Feb. 11, then missed the win over Kentucky with a knee injury.
Sophomore wing Devon Pryor didn’t play against the Crimson Tide due to a calf strain sustained against the Razorbacks before returning last weekend.
And junior guard Chendall Weaver still hasn’t played since Jan. 7 due to his hip injury and still hasn’t gone through a full practice, instead doing individual work on the side, but is nearing a return, the Texas medical staff believes.
“We’re hoping we’re getting close to having him back on the floor,” Terry said.
Senior wing Tramon Mark also missed the Vanderbilt game with a shoulder injury.
In the initial injury report released on Friday, Weaver remains out with Kaluma and Pryor listed as probable.
A rolling series of injuries that began during preseason practice have impacted how the Horns prepare for games and impacted performances in those games in positive or negative ways depending on the team’s health.
“I think you play your best basketball when you have everybody every day in practice and you even have competitive practices that simulate game situations. We’ve had a few opportunities this year we’ve had very competitive practices and I thought they carried over into our games,” Terry said.
Last year, Texas played its best basketball when it got healthier and positive practice habits produced better results on the court.
“I think this team here over the next couple of weeks is going to get a chance to have competitive practices as we continue to get bodies back into practices, so that way we’ll be able to really stimulate the way we have to play in games with a lot of our main guys going against the main guys. So I think that always helps to raise the level of play this time of year, when you’re able to do that, not for a long period of time, but for an hour at a time, we should be able to get in and have really good execution,” Terry said.
The hope is that the practice time can help the Horns play together better as a team, not only in regards to ball and player movement, but also the team’s overall execution level offensively — over the last 10 games, Texas has the No. 45 offense in adjusted efficiency, but frequent and extended scoring droughts have been a problem.
In fact, of the top 50 teams in the country in the EvanMiya.com rankings, only two teams have suffered more scoring droughts of four minutes or longer than the Horns.
“When guys get into the mindset where you’re reading and reacting and you’re just flowing with one another, everything falls into place,” Texas senior forward Jayson Kent said on Tuesday.
But with a season assist rate that ranks No. 255 nationally, the Longhorns are in the 29th percentile in the country. The trend line isn’t necessarily positive, either — of the last five games, the only one with an assist rate higher than the season average was the blowout win over LSU in Baton Rouge.
Playing isolation-heavy basketball that relies on mid-range jump shots thanks to a three-point rate even lower in the rankings than the team’s assist rate means that Texas has a reduced margin for error compounded by inconsistent effort.
“Just playing the whole 40 minutes, competing at a high level,” Kent said of where the Horns have to improve. “We are a very competitive team. We are a hungry team and we just want to win at the end of the day, so just maintaining that focus, that concentration on those little details we need to get over the hump, because we’re right there. It’s just those little details to get over the hump that we need.”
Five of the eight conference losses by Texas have come by eight points or less, including three at home.
It’s the difference between playing 32 or 36 minutes of good basketball and playing a complete game that avoids those scoring droughts or critical missed shots in crunch time or lapses in defensive intensity that allow easy baskets or cheap trips to the foul line.
It’s the vast difference between teetering on the bubble and playing well enough to land a No. 6 seed to avoid a second-round matchup with a No. 1 or No. 2 seed.
As it is, the No. 10 seed that Bracket Matrix projects based on the Horns appearing in 107 of the 108 brackets the site tracks is a reflection of what Texas is as a team — worth of appearing in the NCAA Tournament, but needing to beat a closely-matched team to have a chance at the type of upset Terry’s team hasn’t been able to pull off.
As it is, wins over projected No. 2 seed Texas A&M, No. 3 seed Kentucky, and No. 5 seed Missouri, all coming at the Moody Center, are merely worth avoiding a play-in game.
Compared to how the SEC schedule set up for the Longhorns early, the closing stretch of five games represents some opportunities to pick up important wins — a road game at Mississippi State marks the only ranked opponent for Texas. And although the Longhorns aren’t favored against the Razorbacks in Fayetteville, that’s a potentially winnable game.
The immediate challenge is to avoid becoming the first SEC team to lose to South Carolina with the Gamecocks off to an 0-13 start in conference play this season. Six of those defeats have been by five points or less, and with the exception of a three-point loss to Vanderbilt in Nashville, five of those losses have been at home, including a three-point defeat by Auburn.
The Gamecocks are a poor offensive team that turns the ball over frequently, but does get to the free-throw line frequently. While the defense is better, in the 82nd percentile in adjusted efficiency, South Carolina doesn’t force turnovers, either, and struggles to defend the three-point line.
The leading scorer is Collin Murray-Boyles, a forward who can pass and handle the ball who scores 15.5 points per game, but isn’t a good shooter and has a turnover rate almost as high as his assist rate. Guard Jamarii Thomas has a similar usage rate and averages 13.3 points per game with a 3.2-to-2.3 assist-to-turnover rate. Thomas and guard Morris Ugusuk are the team’s primary three-point shooters, both hitting at a high rate.
Texas has a 63-percent win probability, according to BartTorvik.com, and favored by 2.5 points on FanDuel with tip set for 7:30 p.m. Central on SEC Network.
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at May 20, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 20 drawing
18-30-33-55-64, Mega Ball: 11
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from May 20 drawing
Midday: 4-5-4, FB: 6
Evening: 5-1-2, FB: 9
Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from May 20 drawing
Midday: 7-7-6-1, FB: 6
Evening: 1-2-5-2, FB: 9
Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from May 20 drawing
Midday: 05
Evening: 11
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from May 20 drawing
02-14-19-24-27
Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
The South Carolina Education Lottery provides multiple ways to claim prizes, depending on the amount won:
For prizes up to $500, you can redeem your winnings directly at any authorized South Carolina Education Lottery retailer. Simply present your signed winning ticket at the retailer for an immediate payout.
Winnings $501 to $100,000, may be redeemed by mailing your signed winning ticket along with a completed claim form and a copy of a government-issued photo ID to the South Carolina Education Lottery Claims Center. For security, keep copies of your documents and use registered mail to ensure the safe arrival of your ticket.
SC Education Lottery
P.O. Box 11039
Columbia, SC 29211-1039
For large winnings above $100,000, claims must be made in person at the South Carolina Education Lottery Headquarters in Columbia. To claim, bring your signed winning ticket, a completed claim form, a government-issued photo ID, and your Social Security card for identity verification. Winners of large prizes may also set up an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for convenient direct deposit of winnings.
Columbia Claims Center
1303 Assembly Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Claim Deadline: All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date for draw games.
For more details and to access the claim form, visit the South Carolina Lottery claim page.
When are the South Carolina Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
- Pick 4: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
- Cash Pop: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
- Palmetto Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. ET daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Carolina editor. You can send feedback using this form.
South-Carolina
‘False Hope’: Prosecutors Blast South Carolina’s New Fentanyl Homicide Bill – FITSNews
A coalition of South Carolina solicitors is speaking out against a recently passed fentanyl homicide statute, warning it offers little real help in combating the deadly opioid crisis ravaging communities across the Palmetto State.
In a sharply worded statement released by the office of S.C. fourteenth circuit solicitor Duffie Stone – and signed by eleven other elected solicitors – the Palmetto State’s new “fentanyl-induced homicide” bill was blasted as ineffective, difficult to enforce and ultimately misleading for the victims’ families it was meant to empower.
“The recently passed fentanyl-induced homicide law … fails to provide prosecutors any real tools,” Stone wrote in the letter (.pdf). “It will be rarely used.”
In contrast to the “crucial first step” taken by lawmakers in 2023 with the passage of a fentanyl trafficking bill, the new legislation – S. 156 – “ensures the status quo,” prosecutors claimed.
“Under no circumstances will it be the game-changer some are touting it to be,” Stone wrote. “Unfortunately, it will give grieving parents false hope of holding drug pushers responsible for their kills.”
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Passed by both chambers of the General Assembly – and currently awaiting the signature of governor Henry McMaster (a former attorney general and U.S. attorney) – the bill creates a new felony homicide offense for those who “knowingly provide” fentanyl that leads to someone’s death.
“Though the statute has other problems, the use of the word ‘knowingly’ will make it nearly impossible to prove,” Stone asserted in the letter.
According to him and his fellow prosecutors, criminals who claim they believed they were selling heroin or OxyContin “will be a standard defense.” Also, Stone and the solicitors referenced the glut of counterfeit pills pressed to mimic legitimate pharmaceuticals.
“Pills pressed with fake logos and false identifiers will provide an instant defense,” they wrote.
Instead of what they describe as an empty gesture, the solicitors are asking the S.C. General Assembly to pass legislation they believe would have real impact: a state-level Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) law along with a comprehensive anti-gang statute.
“To stop the infiltration of fentanyl, we must stop the organizations that are distributing it,” Stone said. “There are manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors getting this substance into our communities. We can stop them with a state RICO and gang law.”
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RELATED | SOUTH CAROLINA SEES ‘FENTANYL SURGE’
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South Carolina remains one of the few states without its own RICO statute — a powerful prosecutorial tool that allows authorities to indict entire criminal enterprises, rather than taking down one defendant at a time.
“Without this tool, we must piecemeal prosecutions,” Stone said, “charging and prosecuting individuals for individual acts without being able to show the jury their over-arching criminal scheme.”
A gang enforcement bill – S. 76 – is currently pending before the legislature. Prosecutors say its passage could mark a turning point in the fight against organized drug distribution in South Carolina.
“Unlike the current fentanyl homicide law, its passage would be a game changer,” Stone wrote.
The letter was signed by solicitors from 11 of South Carolina’s sixteen circuits — including several from districts that have seen devastating impacts from fentanyl trafficking in recent years. Among its signatories: David Pascoe (first circuit); Bill Weeks (second circuit); Mike Burch (fourth circuit); Byron Gipson (fifth circuit); Randy Newman (sixth circuit); Barry Barnett (seventh circuit); David Stumbo (eighth circuit); Scarlett Wilson (ninth circuit); Rick Hubbard (eleventh circuit); Jimmy Richardson (fifteenth circuit); and Kevin Brackett (sixteenth circuit).
The solicitors’ statement reflected growing frustration within the prosecutorial community regarding its struggles to keep up with the scale and complexity of the fentanyl crisis. Overdose deaths in South Carolina — many linked to counterfeit pills and illicit drug trafficking networks — have surged in recent years, prompting calls for stronger enforcement tools at the state level.
Whether the S.C. General Assembly will advance the kind of legislation prosecutors say is necessary — such as a state RICO statute or gang enforcement bill — remains to be seen. But with fentanyl continuing to devastate communities across the Palmetto State, lawmakers face mounting pressure to move beyond symbolic gestures and deliver laws with real impact.
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THE LETTER…
(S.C. Fourteenth Judicial Circuit)
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
Jenn Wood is FITSNews’ incomparable research director. She’s also the producer of the FITSFiles and Cheer Incorporated podcasts and leading expert on all things Murdaugh/ South Carolina justice. A former private investigator with a criminal justice degree, evildoers beware, Jenn Wood is far from your average journalist! A deep dive researcher with a passion for truth and a heart for victims, this mom of two is pretty much a superhero in FITSNews country. Did we mention she’s married to a rocket scientist? (Lucky guy!) Got a story idea or a tip for Jenn? Email her at jenn@fitsnews.com.
***
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When Ashley Chastain stepped into the head coach role at South Carolina, no one was talking about the Gamecocks making a Super Regional run—let alone hosting one. Here we are. Year one. Super Regionals. The question isn’t “how did they get here?” It’s “who’s stopping them now?”
The truth is, Chastain didn’t just bring energy—she brought a whole new standard. A former Gamecock herself and one of the most respected pitching minds in the game, she’s turned a team that many overlooked into one that’s built on grit, precision, and belief.
Let’s talk about that belief for a second. You can see it in the dugout. You can hear it in the way they talk to each other between innings. This team is dialed. They’re turning double plays like clockwork and pitching with ice in their veins. In the Columbia Regional, they allowed just three runs total. That’s not luck—that’s culture. That’s buy-in. And that’s 100% Chastain’s influence.
She’s reshaped the identity of this program from the inside out. South Carolina was known for flashes of potential in the past, but consistency? Not so much. This year, they’ve become a team that plays clean defense, executes under pressure, and doesn’t blink when the game gets tight. That’s what makes them dangerous.
Now comes the real test. It’s one thing to win your regional. It’s another to go toe-to-toe with a program like UCLA. We’re talking about a team with 12 national championships and one of the most battle-tested coaching staffs in the country. The Bruins are the gold standard. Their resume speaks for itself. So the question becomes: can Chastain handle the chess match ahead? Can she outmaneuver a UCLA program that’s been here, done that, and written the postseason playbook?
I think she can.
Look—this matchup isn’t just about talent. It’s about tempo. It’s about confidence. And right now, South Carolina is riding a wave that only belief can build. Chastain has these players bought in on every pitch, every rep, every moment. That’s the kind of leadership that wins in May.
Whether they punch a ticket to OKC or fall short, what Ashley Chastain has done this season is nothing short of remarkable. She’s taken a team off the radar and put them right in the national conversation. She’s turned “maybe next year” into “why not us now?”
This is only the beginning. South Carolina isn’t just hosting UCLA—they’re announcing their arrival.
So bring the Bruins. Bring the cameras. Bring the pressure.The Gamecocks are just getting started.
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