South Carolina defeats LSU 68-78
South Carolina Edges LSU in Conference Showdown
In a closely contested conference matchup, the Gamecocks of South Carolina emerged victorious over their hosts, the Tigers of LSU, with a 78-68 win at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
The visiting team took an early lead into halftime, trailing only by 25 points. The second half saw both teams come out strong, but ultimately, it was the Gamecocks who maintained their advantage, with Elijah Strong leading the charge with 30 points on 4-4 three-point shooting.
Strong's performance was a key factor in South Carolina's win, as he scored efficiently from beyond the arc and consistently found ways to get to the rim. His ability to score from multiple levels allowed him to keep LSU's defense guessing throughout the game.
The largest lead of the night came when LSU trailed by 28 points with just over 10 minutes remaining. However, they managed to cut the deficit down significantly before falling short in the end.
Max Mackinnon led LSU with 15 points on 3-8 three-point shooting and a strong all-around effort off the bench. Mike Nwoko added 13 rebounds and six points to help keep his team competitive throughout the contest. Jalen Reece chipped in with six assists, while Meechie Johnson put up 19 points for South Carolina.
Advanced statistics highlighted the Gamecocks' efficiency on offense and defense. They shot 58.5% from the field, made 76% of their free throws, and had a strong defensive performance, limiting LSU to just 49.9% shooting.
The win gives South Carolina a critical victory in conference play, while LSU falls to 0-1 against ranked opponents this season.