Te-Hina Paopao scored 23 points, MiLaysia Fulwiley chipped in with 18 points off the bench and No. 1 South Carolina passed its first big test of the season with a 71-57 victory over ninth-ranked North Carolina State on Sunday in the Ally Tipoff at Charlotte’s Spectrum Center.

Coming into No. 1 South Carolina’s showdown with No. 9 N.C. State, a key question was whether the sluggish opener against Michigan was just early rust or a sign of some step-back after a national title run.