Is $T(n) = Ω (n^2)$ the same as $n^2=O(T(n))$?
It follows from the definitions that $f(n) = O(g(n))$ iff $g(n) = \Omega(f(n))$, in the same way that $a \leq b$ is equivalent to $b \geq a$. Therefore in order to prove $f(n) = \Theta(g(n))$, it suffices (and necessary) to prove $f(n) = O(g(n))$ and $g(n) = O(f(n))$.

The "quick" way to prove that $\binom{n}{2} = \Theta(n^2)$ is
$$
\binom{n}{2} = \frac{1}{2} n^2 + O(n) = \frac{1}{2} n^2 + o(n^2) = \Theta(n^2),
$$
where the last equality is a general result: $cf(n) + o(f(n)) = \Theta(f(n))$.

In practice, we take the following fact as well-known: if $P$ is a polynomial whose leading coefficient is positive then
$$ P(n) = \Theta(n^{\deg P}). $$
Using this, you can immediately deduce $\binom{n}{2} = \Theta(n^2)$.