Box Score

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Kala Green dropped a game-high 21 points, and Shontell Bostick added 15 points, as North Carolina A&T State fell to No. 2 seed and defending national champion South Carolina 63-52 Friday evening in Colonial Life Arena in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Aggies ended their season at 23-9.

The Gamecocks (27-6) opened the game on a 10-0 run and maintained that momentum into a 39-21 halftime lead. An A'ja Wilson 3-point play with 7:20 left in the third quarter grew South Carolina's lead to 45-25, its largest of the game, before the Aggies mounted a comeback.

A 10-2 run let the Aggies cut the lead to 47-35 after a Mikayla Wilson layup, and the run continued into the fourth quarter -- when Green hit a jumper at the 6:50 mark to cut the lead to 53-45.

Green added a three with 3:22 left to cut the lead to 58-51.

The Aggies outscored South Carolina 31-24 in the second half, a span in which they made five of eight 3-pointers.

Wilson led the Gamecocks with 19 points and 16 rebounds.