NEW YORK -- If you think the Seton Hall Pirates are playing with a chip on their shoulder, you'd be incorrect.

It's more like a boulder.

The Pirates had a fantastic 2015-16 season, led by Isaiah Whitehead, one of the most highly touted recruits in the program's history. The Hall won the Big East Conference Tournament title, beating Villanova in the title game.

With a 25-8 record and championship nets around their necks, the Pirates were optimistic about getting a favorable NCAA Tournament draw. Instead they got a No. 6 seed and were sent to Denver to face Gonzaga, an NCAA Tournament fixture.

The Pirates lost and days later, Whitehead declared for the NBA Draft.

If the Pirates weren't offended by the NCAA Selection Committee, they certainly got bent out of shape by all the talk about this being a down year without Whitehead.

"Of course," said Seton Hall guard Khadeem Carrington, when asked if his team plays with a chip. "When Isaiah left, a lot of people thought play was going to go down. Isaiah was a big piece but there's still guys here left. It was kind of disrespectful to say that."

Seton Hall took a big step to proving that plenty of talent does remain in South Orange, N.J., by knocking off 16th-ranked, and previously undefeated South Carolina, 67-64, in the Under Armour Reunion in Madison Square Garden.

Desi Rodriguez muscled in a layup with 11.6 seconds left to give the Pirates (8-2) the win. After Myles Powell converted one-of-two free throws, PJ Dozier heaved up a three-quarters shot that clanged off the rim.

Overtime might have been fitting. There were 13 ties and 16 lead changes in a game that was a good old-fashioned rock fight.

"Hats off to Seton Hall," said Martin. "They've got some tough, tough dudes that don't back down."

The same can be said of South Carolina. Few coaches get their teams to play as hard on defense as Martin.

The Gamecocks won their first eight games despite not having star guard Sindarius Thornwell for the last two. He was suspended indefinitely on Dec. 4 for an unspecified violation of athletic department policy.

But with the tenacity that South Carolina plays defense and a lineup that seems to find a new breakout player every night, the Gamecocks are not about to back down either.

They trailed 64-60 with 1:52 left but rallied to tie it at 64-64 with 34.3 seconds left. After a timeout, Seton Hall got the ball to Rodriguez, who attacked the rim.

"After a while we said, 'Screw it, just drive,' " said Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard. "They take you out of your offense so well."

Rodriguez finished with 16 points. Kadeem Carrington shook off a poor-shooting first half to lead all scorers with a game-high 21. Angel Delgado had 13 points and 12 rebounds.

South Carolina (8-1) got 20 points from Dozier and 11 points and nine rebounds from Chris Silva. Hassan Gravett had a career-high 11.

With Thornwell looking on from the bench, South Carolina led for more than 25 minutes and opened two nine-point leads. It would have been enough against most teams.

Seton Hall was just a little tougher than a tough South Carolina team on this night.

"Absolutely," said Dozier when asked about his team's toughness. "That's what Frank Martin's all about. Anywhere he goes, whether it's K-State or South Carolina, he has a history of teams that are tough. Hats off to Seton Hall but we have a tough team as well."

NOTES: Seton Hall dressed in the Knicks locker room, which was a tremendous thrill for players such as Kadeem Carrington of Brooklyn and Desi Rodriguez of the Bronx. And yes, Carmelo Anthony's was the choice spot. ... A scrum under the Seton Hall basket with 1:04 remaining in the half left South Carolina's Chris Silva with a bloody lip. He was treated on the bench and was able to return.