LSU 92-USC 87 (OT) Game Summary
COLONIAL LIFE ARENA
- LSU led 86-85 with :39 left in overtime after a made free throw by Kobe Knox. Lamont Paris called a timeout and ordered his team to double-team once the ball got into the front court, hoping to speed up the Tigers into a forced bad shot. As he later explained, the wrong player doubled, and as the defense was in scramble mode, the Tigers found Australian Max Mackinnon, a 40% three-point shooter, wide-open in the right corner. He drained the shot with :21 seconds left to put the Tigers up four.
- There was still time for the Gamecocks, and they cut the lead to two on a pair of free throws by Mike Sharavjamts with :09 left.
- The Gamecocks fouled Rashad King with :07 left, and he went 1-2 at the line for a 90-87 lead for the Tigers.
- Paris called a timeout to set up a final play, and Meechie Johnson was fouled in the backcourt. He missed the first, and intentionally missed the second, but that shot did not touch the rim, and it went as a turnover.
- LSU inbounded with a long pass for a dunk and the final five point margin of victory.
- LSU led by 13 points in the first half 28-15, but the Gamecocks closed with a 20-8 run and trailed 36-35 at the break.
- The Gamecocks tied the game for the first time at 47-47 on a Johnson three-pointer, then took their first lead at 49-47 on a put-back by Grant Polk with 15:08 to play Eli Ellis followed with a three, and the Gamecocks had a five point lead.
- It was close the rest of the way with both teams having a four point lead. USC led 78-76 with 1:53 to play after a bucket by Elijah Strong. Michael Nwoko tied the game at 78-78 on a layup with 1:39 to play.
- Both teams missed shots on their next two possessions giving the Gamecocks final shot of regulation with two-seconds left. Inbounding from the backcourt, the ball went to Johnson who heaved up a two-handed shot from between the circles that was close, but still off the mark
- South Carolina made just one field goal in overtime, that was a jumper by Johnson with 1:24 left to make it 85-84 in favor of LSU. And the Tigers didn’t make a field goal until the big shot from Mackinnon put them up four with :21 to play.
- In overtime, the Gamecocks were 1-5 from the floor, but 7-9 from the line, while LSU was 2-7 on field goals and 9-12 on free throws.
- LSU shot 52% for the game and made nine three-pointers. The Tigers moved the ball well and had 23 assists. They scored regularly inside with 42 points in the paint, 30 of those on layups and dunks.
- The Gamecocks finished with a 41% shooting day including nine threes. They were only 22-31 at the foul line. The Gamecocks did force 11 turnovers they converted into 15 points. They also grabbed 14 offensive rebounds they turned into 18 points.
- Though the Gamecocks had only six turnovers, they yielded 19 fastbreak points.
- Johnson led USC with 21 points. He also had six assists and five rebounds. Nwoko led LSU with 21 points. Mackinnon added 15 points, including three triples, and he also had eight assists.
- The teams split their two games in the regular season. With the loss, Paris falls to 60-60 as the coach of the Gamecocks.
- USC is now 11-11 overall and 2-7 in the SEC The Gamecocks are 1-5 this season in games decided by five points or less.
- The Gamecocks and LSU are tied for next to last in the SEC standings ahead of only Oklahoma.
- The Gamecocks will play at Texas on Tuesday night.
