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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 23/25 Tennessee men's basketball team (20-9, 10-6) is set to continue the 2025-26 slate Tuesday, as it takes on the South Carolina Gamecocks (12-17, 13-13) at Colonial Life Arena. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m. ET.

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THE LATEST FROM THE VOLS

Vols Check in at #23/25 in Polls#22 Vols Drop 71-69 Result to #17/18 Alabama#22 Vols Fall, 73-69, at MissouriAment Wins Sixth SEC Freshman of the Week Accolade Vols Jump to #22 in National PollsVols Take Down #19/18 Vanderbilt, 69-65, in Nashville

Fans can watch Tuesday's game on ESPN and stream on the ESPN App. Kevin Fitzgerald (play-by-play) and Perry Clark (color) will have the call.

Fans state-wide can tune in to their local Vol Network radio affiliate to hear Voice of the Vols Mike Keith and analyst Chris Lofton depict the action.

THE MATCHUP • Tennessee is 12-2 in its last 14 matchups with South Carolina, dating to 1/20/18. • The Vols are 7-1 in their last eight against the Gamecocks, with six wins by 10-plus, five by 20-plus and two by 40-plus. Their average margin of victory is 23.4 ppg. • This is the third year in a row the sides are meeting in the last week of the regular season. • Tennessee is 5-1 in its last six trips to South Carolina, since 1/20/18. • In its last visit to Colonial Life Arena, on 3/6/24, UT clinched the 2023-24 SEC outright regular season title with a 66-59 victory. • Since South Carolina joined the SEC in 1991-92, this is just the fifth time the two schools are not meeting multiple times in the regular season. They also played just once each in 2024-25, 2020-21 (one game canceled due to COVID-19), 2013-14 and 2012-13. • Coming off a 12-20 (2-16) year, the Gamecocks checked in at No. 16 in the 2025-26 SEC preseason poll. • Redshirt senior guard Meechie Johnson paces South Carolina with 17.2 ppg, 4.3 apg and 1.3 spg.

NEWS & NOTES • Rick Barnes' 856 wins co-lead all active DI coaches and rank co-ninth all-time (min. 10 years in DI). • Ja'Kobi Gillespie has recorded eight steals in two of Tennessee's last four games after no Vol had ever reached that number previously. He is the fourth player in SEC history with multiple eight-steal outings, including the only one to do it twice in league play. • Against #17/18 Alabama, Ja'Kobi Gillespie became the first Division I player in the last 15 seasons (2011-26) with 26 points, eight steals, seven assists and five rebounds in a game. • Felix Okpara, the 20th player to log 100 blocks as a Vol, is averaging 12.3 ppg and 7.0 rpg on 75.0% shooting the last four outings. • Tennessee has led by double-digit points in each of its last four defeats, including by 13-plus in the second half of three. • UT has played just three games (2-1) that did not include a lead of 10-plus either way. Only one (1-0) did not have a nine-point margin. • Tennessee has held each of its last nine foes to fewer than 75 points. • UT's 45.4 offensive rebounding percentage is on pace to be, per KenPom, the second-best mark this century. It trails only 2000-01 Michigan State (47.0). • The Vols have grabbed at least 15 offensive boards 19 times this year. • Tennessee is looking to reach 11-plus SEC wins for the fifth season in a row. It has done that just once previously, with a seven-year tally from 1970-71 to 1976-77. • The Vols are also seeking 21-plus wins for the fifth straight year, which they have also done once before, from 2005-06 to 2009-10. • Tennessee, Alabama and Houston are the only schools to make the last three Sweet 16s. Tennessee, Alabama and Duke are the only three in the last two Elite Eights. • UT finished a program-best fifth in the AP Poll, Coaches Poll and KenPom in 2023-24 and 2024-25. • The Volunteers' 221 wins the last nine years (2017-26) place co-eighth in DI, alongside Arizona. Only Gonzaga (267), Houston (267), Duke (247), Kansas (233), Purdue (228), Saint Mary's (227) and Liberty (223) possess more.

WINNING WAYS • Over the last nine seasons (2017-26), Tennessee (221-83; .727) paces all SEC programs in total victories, overall winning percentage and postseason victories (23). In that span, UT has three SEC titles (2018 and 2024 regular seasons, 2022 tournament). • In that same period, the Volunteers are one of two SEC teams with even 210-plus wins and/or a winning percentage above .690, alongside Auburn (217-85; .719). • Over SEC play across the same span, Tennessee (108-51; .679) is first in both league victories and league winning percentage. The only other schools at even 100-plus wins and/or a .615 clip are Kentucky (107-52; .673), Alabama (103-57; .644) and Auburn (102-58; .638). • In just the last five seasons (2021-26), the Vols own a 129-45 (.741) overall record. That is good for the most total wins and the best winning percentage in the SEC, far ahead of Auburn (.724; 123-47). • In that time, Tennessee (61-27; .693) is second in league victories and league winning percentage, behind only Alabama (63-25; .716).

OWNING THE OPENING TIP • Tennessee won the jump-ball in 29 of 38 outings last year, with Felix Okpara taking all of them. • After starting 12-9 in jump-balls, Okpara claimed 17 in a row to conclude the season. He then won five in a row to open 2025-26, giving him 22 straight wins. • Okpara is 18-10 so far in 2025-26, including overtime, giving him a 47-19 (.712) overall mark as a Vol. • Per KenPom, Okpara has 70 jump-ball wins the last three years (2023-26), second among active players.

BEASTS ON THE BOARDS • Tennessee leads the nation, according to KenPom, with a 45.4 offensive rebounding percentage. That is 2.8 above second-ranked Florida (42.6) and 6.0 ahead of third-place Virginia (39.4). • UT is on pace, per KenPom, to be the second-best offensive rebounding team this century. The Vols trail only 2000-01 Michigan State (47.0), while placing just above 2000-01 Georgetown (45.3). • The Volunteers have logged double-digit offensive rebounds in 28 of 29 games, with 13-plus in 24, 15-plus in 19, 20-plus in six and 23-plus in four. Their top tally is 26. • UT is first in DI in offensive rebounds per game (16.10), second in rebounding margin (13.5) and third in total rebounds per game (42.97). • The Vols have grabbed at least 35 total boards in 26 of 29 contests, with 40-plus in 18, 45-plus in 14 and 50-plus in six. Their highest mark is 60. • Jaylen Carey (five times), J.P. Estrella (three), Felix Okpara (three), Bishop Boswell (two), DeWayne Brown II (two) and Nate Ament (one) have all amassed 10 total rebounds in a game this season. • Per KenPom, Jaylen Carey is eighth in the country with his 17.9 offensive rebounding percentage. J.P. Estrella has a 17.7 mark, but does not qualify. • In his second start, versus Gardner-Webb (12/21/25), DeWayne Brown II had 14 rebounds. He tied Grant Williams (3/1/17), Jarnell Stokes (3/3/12) and Brian Williams (12/15/07) for the most by a UT freshman in the last 20 seasons (2006-26). He also tied the fifth-highest total by any Vol in the Rick Barnes era. • The Volunteers pulled down 60 rebounds in the double-overtime victory against Texas A&M (1/13/26) and conceded just 35 (plus-25). It marked their first time with 55-plus rebounds since grabbing 58 on 11/18/08 versus UT Martin. UT had 24 offensive boards and allowed only 10 (plus-14). Jaylen Carey (10p, 9r) was one rebound away from giving Tennessee three players with double-digit boards and double-doubles, as Bishop Boswell (13p, 11r) and Felix Okpara (10p, 12r) both hit that mark. • In the overtime win at Georgia (1/28/26), Tennessee grabbed 52 rebounds and allowed only 27 (plus-25). It also pulled down an astounding 26 offensive boards while giving up just seven (plus-19). Two Vols, J.P. Estrella and Felix Okpara, had as many offensive boards individually as the Bulldogs did as a team. Bishop Boswell (13p, 10r) tallied a double-double, while Estrella (17p, 9r) and Okpara (6p, 11r) nearly did so. • In the victory against Auburn (1/31/26), Tennessee had four players—Nate Ament, Bishop Boswell, Jaylen Carey and Amari Evans—grab eight rebounds. It marked the second such instance for the Volunteers in the last 20 seasons (2006-26), alongside a 12/23/13 game versus Morehead State. DeWayne Brown II gave UT five players with seven-plus boards, the first such occurrence for UT in the last two decades and just the fourth by any SEC team in league play. • At Kentucky (2/7/26), DeWayne Brown II pulled down a game-best 12 rebounds. That tied for the third-most by a Tennessee freshman in an SEC game the last 20 seasons (2006-26). The only others to hit that mark are Grant Williams (14 on 3/1/17 at LSU), Jarnell Stokes (14 on 3/3/12 against Vanderbilt), Tobias Harris (12 on 1/29/11 at Ole Miss) and Wayne Chism (12 on 2/10/07 against Vanderbilt).

GILLESPIE'S GREATNESS • After scoring eight points in his Tennessee debut, Gillespie has scored double-digit points in all 28 games since then. He has 15-plus points in 22 tilts, 17-plus in 18, 20-plus in 12 and 24-plus in five. • Per ESPN's Kevin Connors, Gillespie's 28-game double-figure scoring streak is the second longest by a Vol this century. It trails only Ron Slay's multi-year streak of 29 games from 2001-02 into 2002-03.

SNATCHING STEALS • Ja'Kobi Gillespie set a program single-game record with eight steals in the win over Oklahoma (2/18/26). He added 16 points and eight assists. • In UT's next home game, versus #17/18 Alabama (2/28/26), Gillespie again had eight steals, including seven in the first 18 minutes. He also notched 26 points, seven assists and five rebounds. • The eight steals tied the fifth-highest total ever by an SEC player, including the co-second-most versus a fellow SEC team. • Only seven other SEC players have tallied eight-plus steals versus league SEC foes: Boogie Fland (2026), Tremont Waters (2018), Anthony Hickey (2013), Rajon Rondo (2005), Clarence Ceasar (1994), Shawn Griggs (1991 [10]) and Clifford Lett (1989). • Gillespie is the fourth player in SEC history with multiple eight-steal outings, joining Shawn Griggs (three), Gary Hooker and Tremont Waters. He is the only player to achieve the feat twice in league play. • In addition, against the Sooners, Gillespie became the eighth player from any league in the last 20 seasons (2006-26) with 16 points, eight assists and eight steals versus a DI foe. He is the only one in that span to achieve the feat against a Power Six team. • Furthermore, versus the Crimson Tide, he became the only DI player player in the last 15 years (2011-26) with 26 points, eight steals, seven assists and five rebounds in a contest.

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Residents of central South Carolina were hit with multiple tornado warnings on Thursday morning (March 12, 2026) as a major storm front moved through the Midlands region of the state.

Beginning at approximately 9:21 a.m. EDT, the Columbia, S.C. branch of the National Weather Service (NWS) began issuing tornado warnings for broad swaths of the region – including Lexington and Saluda counties south of Lake Murray and shortly thereafter for several heavily populated regions in Lexington and Richland counties north of the lake.

From 9:21 a.m. through 10:14 a.m., a total of six tornado warnings were issued for NWS Columbia’s coverage area – including warnings which encompassed Ballentine, Columbia, Gilbert and Irmo, S.C. At one point, nearly a quarter million Midlands residents were under a tornado warning.

While none of the dreaded funnel clouds appear to have touched down, the weather’s ominous turn was duly noted as cell phones across the region lit up with emergency warnings.

“(The) sky was green and got super dark really fast,” one Midlands resident wrote on X.

One weather watcher, Bethany Ouimette, was tracking traffic cameras operated by the S.C. Department of Transportation (SCDOT) when she observed an “intermittent funnel… coming and going.”

Multiple schools in the Midlands region instituted shelter in place protocols – while some schools actually evacuated students to more secure structures on campus. At the Target shopping center on Harbison Drive – a heavily trafficked retail area of northwest Columbia – shoppers were told to gather in the center of the store where they were asked to shelter in place for nearly an hour until the storm passed.

This is a developing story, please check back for updates…

is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.

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College Basketball Betting Preview: South Carolina State vs North Carolina Central

The South Carolina State Bulldogs face the North Carolina Central Eagles, with tip-off scheduled for 17:00 on Thursday, March 5.

Under 144.5 Could Be the Way to Wager

There’s every chance that the total won’t be as high as 144.5, so we’re prepared to take the -110 that South Carolina State and NCCU go under the line.

South Carolina State Bulldogs got the win in their previous game. A 61-59 triumph occurred on the road when playing Delaware State Hornets.

North Carolina Central Eagles won their last game 77-73. This was a road victory against Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks.

South Carolina State won the last matchup between the pair. Enjoying a 85-72 triumph when facing NCCU. South Carolina State have racked up three straight wins over NCCU. On the head-to-head front, they have won 5 of the past 10.

South Carolina State vs North Carolina Central Prediction & Picks

Head into South Carolina State vs North Carolina Central with expert betting insights, including our main match prediction, best correct score pick and a value-driven bet builder. Dive into each section below for more.

Totals wagering for this college contest provides lots of value at -110. The line is set at 144.5 and we’d be surprised if the combined points total exceeds that amount.

We put solid research behind every basketball pick, starting with recent form and a clear read on injuries. From there, key college hoops stats and advanced metrics help complete the picture and support smarter betting decisions.

Key South Carolina State vs North Carolina Central stats:

The top sportsbooks imply that our pick has a 52.4% prospect of winning. In our opinion, there’s actually a probability of success closer to 60%. That means we’re regarding it as a value bet.

Bettors looking for more juice from their Unders wager can check out the Match Result & Total lines. Here you simply combine points with the team that will win.

Don’t place another bet without seeing the best betting offers available—free bets and welcome promos included.

The South Carolina State Bulldogs and North Carolina Central Eagles meet Thursday in college basketball action at the McDougald-McLendon Arena. Here’s an SC State vs. North Carolina Central prediction. This article will include an SC State vs. North Carolina Central pick.

South Carolina State Bulldogs Betting Preview

The South Carolina State Bulldogs lost to Maryland Eastern Shore and beat Delaware State. South Carolina State has lost 5 of its last 7 games.

The South Carolina State Bulldogs are averaging 68.5 points on 40.9 percent shooting and allowing 82.1 points on 47.4 percent shooting. Jayden Johnson is averaging 13.1 points and 2.7 rebounds, while Owen Bronston Jr. is averaging 10.6 points and 2.7 rebounds. Noah Treadwell is dishing out 0.7 assists, and Cameron Clark is grabbing 5.3 rebounds. The South Carolina State Bulldogs are shooting 33.3 percent from beyond the arc and 66.7 percent from the free throw line. The South Carolina State Bulldogs are allowing 34.6 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 28.6 rebounds per game.

North Carolina Central Eagles Betting Preview

The North Carolina Central Eagles beat Delaware State and Maryland Eastern Shore. NC Central has split its last 10 games.

The North Carolina Central Eagles are averaging 75.2 points on 44.3 percent shooting and allowing 79.1 points on 46.4 percent shooting. Gage Lattimore is averaging 17.3 points and 4 rebounds, while Khouri Carvey is averaging 13.6 points and 6.3 rebounds. Jae Slack is the third double-digit scorer and Dionte Johnson is grabbing 3.8 rebounds. The North Carolina Central Eagles are shooting 33.5 percent from beyond the arc and 72.3 percent from the free throw line. The North Carolina Central Eagles are allowing 35.9 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 29.6 rebounds per game.

SC State vs North Carolina Central Prediction

North Carolina Central is the better team and is getting the benefit of the doubt at home. However, let’s not act like SC State didn’t win the first meeting a few weeks ago as 3.5-point dogs. Dominated much of that game. Also, North Carolina Central has had issues in the big favorite role and that includes an outright loss to Coppin State. North Carolina Central doesn’t play much defense and allows teams to hang around. I’ll grab the points with SC State.

The SC State Bulldogs take on the NC Central Eagles in Durham, NC. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. ET on ESPNU.

NC Central is favored by 7.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -365. The total is set at 144.5 points.

Here’s my SC State vs. NC Central predictions and college basketball picks for March 5, 2026.

SC State vs NC Central Prediction

My Pick: NC Central 1H ATS

My SC State vs NC Central best bet is on the Eagles to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.

SC State vs. NC Central Odds

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SC State vs NC Central College Basketball Betting Preview

South Carolina State enters Thursday's MEAC matchup with an 8-21 overall record.

SC State began the season in atrocious fashion, losing its first 12 contests and 14 of its first 15, with its sole victory coming against a non-Division I program. The Bulldogs made some slight improvements in the latter half of the season and are currently tied for fifth in the MEAC standings.

SC State head coach Erik Martin is in his fourth season at the helm and actually had a relatively promising last campaign with the Bulldogs, finishing with a 20-13 record.

Unfortunately, that's far from the case this season, as Martin’s bunch has struggled on both ends of the floor all season long. The Bulldogs haven't been to the NCAA Tournament since 2003.

Leading the charge for the Bulldogs' offense is Jayden Johnson, who's averaging over 13 points per contest.

While the Bulldogs haven't had many high points this season, their guard play has been relatively solid, with their Owen Bronston Jr. also posting double-figure scoring efforts.

Martin’s frontcourt has been non-existent offensively, without a single forward scoring over 8.5 points per game this season. The Bulldogs' offense is scoring just 66.7 points a night and ranks outside the top 350 in the country in offensive efficiency rating, per KenPom.

On the other end of the floor, it hasn't been much better, with SC State allowing its opponents upwards of 80 points per contest. Its near-14-point scoring margin is among the worst in the MEAC.

Like its offense, the Bulldogs' defense ranks near the bottom of Division I programs, posting a defensive efficiency rating that ranks 357th nationally.

NC Central has been slightly better than its Thursday night opponent, entering this contest with a 12-16 overall record. The Eagles currently rank fourth in the MEAC standings.

LeVelle Moton is in his 17th season as head coach of the Eagles, having previously led them to four NCAA Tournament appearances.

Gage Lattimore is having a phenomenal sophomore season, leading the team in scoring with over 17 points per contest. The guard is also posting four rebounds and over two assists on average.

Khouri Carvey is also having himself a stellar final collegiate season for NC Central. The 6-foot-9 forward is scoring nearly 14 points and over six rebounds per contest.

Moton’s offense has scored over 72 points per game this season and ranks in the top 320 in offensive efficiency ratings, according to Haslametrics.

On the other end of the floor, the Eagles are allowing their opponents just over 76 points per contest this season, posting a -4 scoring margin, which ranks near the top of the conference.

NC Central has really struggled on the glass, averaging just 31 rebounds per contest, which ranks in the bottom 5% of all Division I programs.

The Eagles are coming off a big road victory over MEAC rival Maryland Eastern Shore, giving Moton’s bunch some confidence as the regular season comes to a close.

This should be a pretty ugly matchup, featuring two teams that rank near the bottom of Division I in several efficiency metrics. However, both teams are coming off victories, which could prove vital for their confidence heading into this clash.

I think NC Central is the clear right side in this matchup, as it's entering this contest with the better record and in far superior form.

While Moton’s Eagles have been dreadful at crashing the boards — without a single player in their rotation standing over 6-foot-8 — the Bulldogs are nearly as bad on the glass, which minimizes the area in which NC Central has struggled the most in all season long.

In a matchup featuring two teams desperate for some confidence prior to the MEAC Tournament, I'll be taking a small position on the home favorite on the moneyline.