Sophomore point guard Dedan Thomas Jr. started for UNLV in Monday night’s season opener against Alabama State at Thomas & Mack Center despite dealing with an ankle injury. Coach Kevin Kruger said last week Thomas was in a boot and was expected to miss “a couple weeks.

It wasn’t pretty but No. 1 South Carolina women’s basketball got it done. The Gamecocks (1-0) defeated unranked Michigan 68-62 in their season opener on Monday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, after they trailed for a majority of the first half.

The No. 1 South Carolina women’s basketball team defeated Michigan, 68-62, in Monday night’s season opener in Las Vegas behind big games from forward Chloe Kitts (19 points) and guard Tessa Johnson (15 points) and an all-together resurgent second half at T-Mobile Arena.