Donovan Dent gave LSU the kind of finish that turns a good start into a real statement.
With one second left Saturday afternoon, Dent buried a go-ahead 3-pointer and sent the Tigers past No. 14 Gonzaga, 81-80, at Numerica Veterans Arena. The shot capped LSU’s comeback from a 13-point second-half hole and handed coach Will Wade his first signature win since returning to Baton Rouge.
Dent was everywhere for LSU, finishing with 23 points and 10 assists. The Tigers improved to 4-0, picked up their first win over a ranked opponent this season and stretched their unbeaten start to four straight games in the 2026-27 campaign.
Gonzaga had one last chance, but Davis Fogle’s desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer missed, and LSU walked out with the escape.
Abdi Bashir Jr. gave the Tigers a huge lift off the bench, scoring 15 points and knocking down five 3-pointers. Michael Ruzic added 12 rebounds, helping LSU edge Gonzaga 45-43 on the glass. Braden Huff led the Bulldogs with 18 points.
For a team that had cruised through its first three games by at least 40 points apiece, this was a very different test. LSU led 39-37 at halftime, but Gonzaga took over in the second half and looked ready to run away with it.
The Bulldogs ripped off a 12-2 surge to go up 59-51, then pushed the margin to 68-55 with 7:41 left. LSU went nearly four minutes without a field goal during that stretch, and the game seemed to be slipping away.
Instead, the Tigers kept coming.
Down 75-68 with 4:22 remaining, LSU started cutting into the lead with perimeter shooting, second-chance points and free throws. Bashir hit a key 3-pointer as the Tigers strung together a 7-0 run to get within 79-78 with 1:12 left.
After Gonzaga nudged the lead back to 80-78, Dent took over and finished the job.
LSU’s shooting from deep was a major difference. The Tigers went 12 of 27 from 3-point range, good for 44.4%, while Gonzaga hit just 5 of 18, or 27.8%. LSU also survived 14 turnovers, compared with seven for the Bulldogs, and blocked nine shots on the defensive end.
For Wade and his revamped roster, the win was more than just another mark in the standings. It showed LSU could take a punch, stay physical against a ranked team and make the biggest play when it mattered most.
The Tigers are back home Wednesday, Nov. 18, against UL Monroe at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, where they’ll try to move to 5-0.
In Other News...
Texas Hits Unexpected Travel Snag Right Before LSU Showdown
Texas ran into an unexpected hurdle on the way to Baton Rouge this week, with the Longhorns caught in a nationwide ground stop ordered by the FAA on Nov. 13. The disruption stemmed from air traffic control communications problems affecting facilities across the country, and it put a wrinkle into a normal game-week routine for a team preparing to face LSU.
For the Tigers, it is another reminder that a marquee matchup can be shaped by more than what happens between the lines. Several college football teams were affected by the same travel issue heading into weekend games, and it remains unclear how long the delays will last or whether they will have any impact on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Kelly Could Be Headed For Another Power 4 Chance
Brian Kelly is back in the coaching conversation after interviewing for Marylands head coaching job, a reminder that his name still carries weight in Power 4 circles even after his LSU run ended. Since leaving Baton Rouge, Kelly has shifted into an on-air role with CBS Sports, but his rsum and experience keep him in the mix whenever a major program opens up.
At LSU, Kelly never quite delivered the championship push the school expected when it hired him, and he has acknowledged as much in recent comments. He went 34-14 with the Tigers, a solid mark by most standards, but one that fell short of the national-title benchmark LSU had in mind, leaving his next move a notable storyline for a fan base that watched the fit unravel before the results ever matched the ambition. [Read more 🡒]
LSUs Biggest Texas Question Still Comes Down To Whit Weeks
Whit Weeks remains the name LSU fans will watch closest as the Tigers get ready for Texas, with the final injury report listing the linebacker as questionable but expected to dress and test his leg during warmups. That keeps the focus on one of LSUs most important defensive pieces heading into a matchup that already carries plenty of weight, while starting right tackle Weston Davis is probable and defensive lineman Gabe Reliford is off the report entirely, a sign he could be back in the mix as well.
The other side of the equation may be just as important, since Texas star edge Colin Simmons is not on the injury report after missing time with a high ankle sprain. For LSU, the question is less about the headline names on paper and more about how much Weeks can actually give them once warmups start, because his availability could shape how the Tigers handle a Longhorns front that appears to be getting healthier at the right time. [Read more 🡒]