LSU Finds Its Fight: Tigers Snap Skid With Overtime Road Win Over South Carolina
After a tough stretch that included a deflating home loss and a three-game slide, LSU needed a response. And on Saturday, they delivered one - gritty, imperfect, but full of fight. The Tigers outlasted South Carolina 92-87 in overtime at Colonial Life Arena, picking up their first SEC road win of the season and showing the kind of resilience that’s been missing lately.
They did it without their floor general, Dedan Thomas, who was sidelined again with the lower left leg injury that’s plagued him since early January. But even without their point guard, LSU found a way - behind big-time shot-making, timely free throws, and a collective effort that Coach Matt McMahon said he was “really proud” of.
“It’s been choppy,” McMahon admitted postgame. “Injuries, poor performance the other night… but the guys responded the right way.”
Clutch Gene: Mackinnon Delivers Late
With the game hanging in the balance, Max Mackinnon stepped up in a major way. The sophomore guard knocked down a dagger corner three with 21 seconds left in overtime to give LSU an 89-85 lead - a moment that sealed the win and silenced the South Carolina crowd.
“Obviously, they put two on the ball,” Mackinnon said. “Pablo (Tamba) had a great pass to me - great teammate, he’s the ultimate winner. I knocked down the shot, and that was it.”
That shot capped off a strong all-around night for Mackinnon, who finished with 15 points and a season-high eight assists. His ability to drive, dish, and hit timely shots was critical, especially with Thomas out.
Free Throws and Grit: LSU Closes It Out
LSU’s composure at the line made all the difference. The Tigers hit 21 of 25 from the stripe overall - including 9 of 12 in overtime - and those points were the difference in a game where every possession mattered.
Rashad King and Pablo Tamba each knocked down a pair of free throws to open the overtime scoring for LSU. And while South Carolina clawed back to within one on a jumper by Meechie Johnson with 1:34 to play, that would be the Gamecocks’ final made field goal.
From there, LSU iced it at the line and made just enough defensive plays to escape Columbia with a much-needed win.
Nwoko and King Shine in Thomas’ Absence
With Thomas out, LSU turned to Rashad King in the starting lineup - and the Northeastern transfer delivered in a big way. King poured in a season-high 18 points, grabbed seven boards, and added three assists with just one turnover in 34 minutes. He also sparked LSU late in regulation with a personal 5-0 run that included a steal and transition layup, followed by a three-pointer.
Mike Nwoko was a force inside all night, using his 6-foot-10, 261-pound frame to dominate a smaller South Carolina frontcourt. He finished with 21 points on 9-of-13 shooting and was a steady presence in the paint, especially when LSU needed answers down the stretch.
Nwoko’s most critical bucket came after South Carolina took a late lead on a hook shot from Elijah Strong. Mackinnon found Nwoko inside for a quick response to tie the game again, part of a back-and-forth battle that would eventually head to overtime.
Fast Start, Then a Fight
LSU came out with urgency - a clear point of emphasis after a sluggish start doomed them against Mississippi State earlier in the week. Nwoko scored seven of the team’s first 12 points, and LSU led 10-6 early as South Carolina struggled to find its rhythm.
By the 8-minute mark of the first half, LSU had built a 13-point lead after a dunk by Marquel Sutton, who gave the Tigers a big lift with 16 points and eight rebounds on the night. But South Carolina clawed back with a 10-0 run and cut the deficit to one by halftime, 36-35.
Turnovers were an issue for LSU in the first half - they had eight to South Carolina’s two - but the Tigers cleaned it up just enough after the break to stay in the game.
A Wild Final Stretch
The second half was a tug-of-war. South Carolina’s Meechie Johnson scored seven quick points to open the half and finished with 21 points and six assists. The Gamecocks took a narrow lead midway through the half and held it for much of the final 10 minutes.
Then came the wild sequence with just under four minutes to go: King was fouled on a jumper, but officials also hit him with a Flagrant 1 for a push-off. Both he and South Carolina’s Eli Ellis hit their free throws, tying the game at 74.
South Carolina briefly retook the lead on Strong’s hook shot, but Nwoko answered. With the game tied at 78 in the final seconds of regulation, LSU had a chance to win it.
King was double-teamed and fell to the floor, prompting a review that eventually gave LSU a timeout. But with just 1.6 seconds left on the shot clock, King’s three-point attempt missed, and the game headed to overtime.
What’s Next?
This win won’t fix everything for LSU, but it’s a step in the right direction. They showed they can respond when things aren’t going their way - on the road, without their point guard, and after a tough week. They moved the ball (23 assists on 31 made shots), trusted each other, and made clutch plays when it mattered most.
For a team still trying to find consistency in SEC play, Saturday’s win was about more than just the final score. It was about rediscovering some belief.
And with Thomas working his way back and role players stepping up, LSU might just be turning a corner.