LSU
South Carolina
South Carolina's Sharpshooting Downs LSU in Hostile Environment
BATON ROUGE, La. (02/14/2026) — In a clash of SEC titans, the third-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks marched into a sold-out Pete Maravich Assembly Center and emerged with a hard-fought 79-72 victory over the sixth-ranked LSU Tigers on Saturday night. The Gamecocks weathered an early storm and used superior three-point shooting and clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch to hand the Tigers a rare home loss in front of 13,200 spectators.
The win extends South Carolina's winning streak over LSU to 18 games and improves their season record to 25-2, further cementing their status as a premier national title contender. For LSU, the loss drops them to 22-4 on the season.
How It Happened
The game was a back-and-forth affair from the opening tip. LSU, feeding off the energy of its home crowd, jumped out to an early lead with a 7-0 run after the Gamecocks opened the scoring. The first half was tightly contested, with LSU leading for over 15 minutes of the period before a late layup gave South Carolina a slim 41-40 advantage at the break.
While LSU controlled the paint, outrebounding the Gamecocks 46-37, the story of the game was written from behind the arc. South Carolina's offense was significantly more efficient, shooting 47% from three-point range compared to just 17% for the Tigers. This long-range barrage proved to be the critical difference in a game where both teams committed an identical nine turnovers and battled fiercely for every possession.
Turning Point
The game's pivotal moments came in the second half. LSU started the third quarter slowly, allowing South Carolina to build on its halftime lead with another 5-0 run. The Gamecocks' ability to consistently knock down outside shots created separation that the Tigers, despite their dominance on the boards, could not overcome. As the game wore on, LSU's inability to match South Carolina's scoring from deep, coupled with the Gamecocks' perfect 13-for-13 performance from the free-throw line in the second half, sealed the victory. LSU had a chance to tighten the game with under a minute to play, but came up empty on a crucial trip to the foul line.
Star of the Game
South Carolina's Tessa Johnson was the offensive catalyst, leading all Gamecock scorers with 21 points on an efficient 8-of-13 shooting, including four three-pointers. Her timely baskets consistently thwarted LSU's attempts to regain momentum.
For the Tigers, Flau'Jae Johnson turned in a valiant effort in the loss. She led all scorers with 21 points, shooting 9-of-18 from the field and relentlessly attacking the basket. Mikaylah Williams also contributed 11 points for LSU.
What It Means
For the South Carolina Gamecocks, this victory is a massive statement. Winning on the road in one of the toughest environments in college basketball against a top-10 opponent solidifies their resume for a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Their poise and execution in critical moments demonstrate a championship pedigree as they continue to roll through their SEC schedule.
For the LSU Tigers, the loss is a tough pill to swallow, especially at home. It highlights the need for more consistent offensive production from beyond the arc to complement their formidable interior presence. Despite the defeat, their rebounding prowess and overall talent prove they can compete with the nation's elite. The Tigers will look to regroup before their next conference matchup, a road test against Ole Miss on February 19th.