South Carolina will host LSU at Colonial Life Arena on Saturday, with tipoff now set for 1 p.m. Eastern Time instead of the originally scheduled 6 p.m., due to winter weather in Columbia. All regular game day operations will proceed as usual.
Arena doors open at noon, and all attendees must use the main entrance at Greene St. and Lincoln St.; alternate entrances will be closed. University-controlled surface lots are closed for this event, but season parking passes remain valid for the Discovery Parking Garage, which opens at 10 a.m. Entry is via Park St., as College St. access is closed.
Fans are advised to exercise caution when traveling and moving around parking areas because of slippery conditions from precipitation. Staffing levels may be affected by the weather.
For current road conditions in Columbia, fans can check updates on the South Carolina Department of Transportation website.
Dave Weinstein and Stephen Clark will provide commentary for the SEC Network+ broadcast. The first 1,500 students attending will receive a special edition rope, and rally towels will be available for all fans. Free food is offered to the first 250 students.
The Gamecocks aim to end a two-game losing streak and achieve their first season sweep over LSU since 2003-04; they previously defeated LSU 78-68 on January 6, led by Elijah Strong’s career-high 30 points. Meechie Johnson contributed 19 points and six assists in that win.
Johnson has averaged 17.6 points, five assists, nearly three rebounds, and over one steal per game in eight SEC contests this season. He currently holds an active streak of making his last 23 free throws in SEC play and ranks among only four players in the conference who average at least 15 points, four assists, three rebounds, and one steal per game during league action.
As a team through 21 games, South Carolina leads the SEC—and ranks fifth nationally—in free throw percentage at 79 percent.
LSU enters after three consecutive losses; Dedan Thomas Jr., who missed several games due to injury earlier this season, leads LSU with averages of over fifteen points and six assists per game since returning to action on January 20 against Florida. Other key contributors include Max Mackinnon (14.6 ppg), Michael Nwoko (13.6 ppg), and Marquel Sutton (13 ppg). Sutton also leads LSU with eight rebounds per game while Nwoko tops the SEC in field goal percentage at nearly sixty-seven percent.
At halftime of Saturday’s game, South Carolina’s back-to-back NIT Championship teams from 2005 and 2006 will be recognized with former players and staff present.
South Carolina holds a narrow lead in its series against LSU (21-20 overall), having won three out of their last five meetings dating back to February 2022.
Other notable statistics include:
– The Gamecocks have performed well under head coach Lamont Paris when shooting efficiently or scoring high totals.
– Johnson recently became just the eighth player this season in the SEC to hit seven or more three-pointers in a single game.
– The team made a program-record number of threes last year (274) while limiting turnovers.
– Paris has participated in ten NCAA tournaments as either an assistant or head coach.
– Last year marked South Carolina’s first appearance in the final AP Top-25 poll since finishing No.14 in 1998.
After facing LSU on Saturday afternoon, South Carolina travels to Austin next week for only its second-ever matchup there against Texas.
