Sindarius Thornwell, Duane Notice and P.J. Dozier paced a balanced attack as South Carolina knocked off visiting Louisiana Tech, 85-76, on Friday in the opening game for both teams at Colonial Life Arena.

Thornwell finished with 18 points, including back-to-back dunks late in the second half, and Dozier hit a 3-pointer with 1:30 to play to help put away the Bulldogs. Dozier and Notice each had 17 points for the Gamecocks.

Sophomore guard Derric Jean led Louisiana Tech with 18 points, and Jacob Boykins added 14.

South Carolina closed the first half with a 17-8 run and led 42-31 at halftime. Thornwell had nine points in the half and Notice had eight.

The Gamecocks hit six 3-pointers in the first half. Louisiana Tech missed all seven of its 3-point attempts in the first half.

The Bulldogs chipped away at the lead early in the second half and trailed by only five, 59-54, after a steal and dunk from Boykins with 10:31 to play. But Louisiana Tech wouldn't get much closer against an experienced South Carolina team.

The Gamecocks won a school-record 25 games last season, but were left out of the NCAA tournament. Coach Frank Martin has the core of last year's team back, led by Thornwell.

The Gamecocks, who are picked to finish eighth in the SEC by the media, hit nine 3-pointers and shot 52.6 percent from the floor.

Louisiana Tech returns three starters and is pegged to finish in the middle of the pack in Conference USA in coach Eric Konkol's second season.