LSU defeated South Carolina 92-87 in overtime on Saturday in Columbia, South Carolina. Mike Nwoko led LSU with 21 points, while Rashad King added 18 points and Marquel Sutton contributed 16 points and eight rebounds. Max Mackinnon also scored 15 points and recorded a season-high eight assists.
The game was closely contested, with LSU holding a one-point lead at halftime. South Carolina responded strongly in the second half, taking a four-point lead after consecutive three-pointers from Elijah Strong and Eli Ellis. The Gamecocks extended their advantage to five points with just over eight minutes left.
LSU regained momentum as King made a driving layup and then hit a go-ahead three-pointer. After several late lead changes, Nwoko tied the game at 78 with less than two minutes remaining. Neither team scored again before regulation ended.
In overtime, LSU capitalized at the free-throw line, going 8-for-8 between King and Pablo Tamba during the extra period. Mackinnon secured the win for LSU with a long three-pointer in the final seconds.
South Carolina’s Meechie Johnson led his team with 21 points and six assists. Kobe Knox scored 15 points, while Ellis added 14 off the bench.
LSU finished the game shooting just over 51 percent from the field and assisted on most of their made baskets. There were eight lead changes and seven ties throughout the second half and overtime.
South Carolina entered as one of the top free throw shooting teams nationally but shot just over 71 percent from the line against LSU.
Johnson’s performance marked his eighth straight game scoring in double figures and his sixth game this season with at least 20 points. He also continued his streak of consecutive made free throws before missing late in this contest.
Four other Gamecocks joined Johnson in double figures: Knox (15), Ellis (14), Elijah Strong (12), and Mike Sharavjamts (11). Sharavjamts led South Carolina with six rebounds; Strong had a career-high three steals.
Under head coach Lamont Paris, South Carolina’s record when scoring at least 80 points fell to 20-2 over four seasons—both losses coming this season in home overtime games.
The start time for Saturday’s matchup was moved earlier due to winter weather concerns in Columbia, shifting TV coverage to SEC Network+.
South Carolina will next play Texas on Tuesday night in Austin for only their second-ever meeting.
