GREENVILLE, S.C. — The game was so good. Two of the top teams in the country traded scoring swings and barbs all game long.

Another instant classic, no doubt. But now it'll be remembered for a skirmish that broke out with 2:08 left between LSU women's basketball and South Carolina.

The Gamecocks held on to defeat the Tigers 79-72 for their eighth SEC Tournament championship in 10 years.

Kim Mulkey and LSU, who grabbed the early lead, couldn't retake the ground it lost early after a multitude of turnovers as the Gamecocks surged to take the lead late in the opening period. The Tigers outrebounded the Gamecocks 22-12 in the first half and shot the ball decently well at 41%.

But in its first SEC Tournament championship game appearance since 2012, the Tigers fell short.

LSU women's basketball, South Carolina get into skirmish late leads to ejections, detainment of Flau'jae Johnson brother

Late in the fourth quarter, South Carolina freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley stripped Flau'ae Johnson of the ball. Johnson then grabbed Fulwiley as she started up the floor. Ashlyn Watkins then came over in Johnson's direction, shouting which sparked a retaliatory shove from Johnson.

Gamecocks star junior center Kamilla Cardoso came storming over and laid out Johnson in response. That's when the fight broke out. Johnson's brother jumped onto the court and was quickly detained by local authorities, according to the ESPN broadcast.

All bench players were ejected for leaving the bench area, except South Carolina's Sania Feagin and Te-Hina Paopao.

Cardoso was ejected for a fighting foul and Johnson was assessed an intentional foul.

Angel Reese helps LSU women's basketball best South Carolina, Kamilla Cardoso in rebounding

LSU accomplished something not too many teams have this season against Cardoso and South Carolina, and that's control the glass.

Reese collected her 10th rebound by the 5:14 third-quarter mark, six more than any South Carolina player had at that point. She finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

But it wasn't just Reese, six of the seven LSU players that saw action recorded at least one rebound. Junior Aneesah Morrow had six rebounds while freshman center Aalyah Del Rosario, who needed to play more minutes because of attrition issues for the Tigers, pulled down three boards. For the game, LSU outrebounded South Carolina 44-37.

LSU freshman star Mikaylah Williams plays

Freshman sensation Mikaylah Williams hasn't played since the penultimate regular-season game for the Tigers, missing the last three games for LSU, including the first two SEC Tournament games.

Despite her absences, Williams came into the Sunday's game three minutes in and played solidly. She snagged a quick rebound and hit her first shot attempt of the game.

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Mulkey needed her to play as the team's short bench was that much shorter with the loss of Last-Tear Poa to a concussion.

Williams finished with two points in 25 minutes.

Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers and Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU/UL athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU women's basketball falls short for SEC title to South Carolina