NC State and UNLV Women Open with Wins

The USC Upstate men's basketball team, under new head coach Marty Richter, debuted with a 97-66 loss against NC State, despite strong performances from freshman Mister Dean and junior Karmani Gregory. Meanwhile, North Florida's men's team secured a historic 74-71 win over South Carolina, marking their first victory against an SEC team, led by Jaylen Smith's pivotal performance. In women's basketball, the UNLV Lady Rebels started their season with a win over Loyola Marymount, continuing their dominance in the Mountain West. Kentucky's women's team also began strongly, beating USC Upstate 98-43, with standout performances from Clara Strack and Georgia Amoore. North Carolina's women's team, No. 15 ranked, defeated Charleston Southern 83-53, with Alyssa Ustby and Lexi Donarski leading the charge.