Gamecocks Show Fight, But Fall in Overtime Battle to LSU
COLUMBIA - After their worst loss of the season - a 95-48 home drubbing by Florida - South Carolina head coach Lamont Paris didn’t mince words. It wasn’t just about size or talent, he said.
It was effort. And effort, in the SEC, is non-negotiable.
Fast forward to their next outing, and the Gamecocks showed up with the kind of energy Paris had been pleading for. They fought.
They competed. They pushed LSU to the brink.
But in the end, it wasn’t quite enough. South Carolina dropped a 92-87 overtime heartbreaker to the Tigers on Jan. 31, a game that laid bare both the progress and persistent problems this team is trying to solve.
Paint Problems Persist
LSU leaned into its size advantage from the jump - and especially in overtime. While South Carolina tried to score on every trip down the floor, LSU played like it knew it would.
The Tigers repeatedly fed the post, where their length overwhelmed USC’s smaller, often outmatched frontcourt. Neither of South Carolina’s 7-footers saw the floor - a decision rooted in productivity, or lack thereof - and the result was a paint battle the Gamecocks simply couldn’t win.
In the overtime period alone, LSU out-rebounded South Carolina 5-2. That small number told a much bigger story.
“We got to make strong moves at the basket. There’s size on every team in this conference,” said Kobe Knox, who chipped in 15 points. “Guys have got to be stronger around the rim, got to continue finishing.”
Missed Chances in a Winnable Game
Despite the size mismatch, South Carolina had its opportunities. Meechie Johnson nearly ended it in regulation with a 60-foot heave that came just off the rim.
In overtime, Knox had a chance to tie the game at the line with 39 seconds left. He missed the first, made the second, and LSU responded with a dagger - a wide-open corner three from Max McKinnon that found nothing but net.
From there, the Gamecocks played the foul game but couldn’t close the gap. Marquel Sutton sealed it with a one-handed slam, and the Tigers walked out with the win.
South Carolina (11-11, 2-7 SEC) now finds itself at .500, still searching for consistency on both ends of the floor. The effort was there this time - a big step forward from the Florida loss - but the production wasn’t.
Offensive Identity Still in Flux
The Gamecocks shot a respectable 41% from the field, but they couldn’t keep pace with LSU’s 52% mark. South Carolina started slow, then found rhythm - but the kind of offensive outburst that led to a 78-68 win over these same Tigers earlier this season never materialized.
Elijah Strong, who erupted for 30 points in that first meeting, was held to 12 this time. LSU clearly came in with a plan: take Strong away, and you take away USC’s best offensive option.
It worked. And it’s a blueprint other teams have started to follow - Oklahoma did the same in a recent loss to the Gamecocks.
“We had varying success in terms of finishing, but we did draw some fouls,” Paris said postgame. “We got in there some but probably not enough.”
That’s been the story of the season for South Carolina: flashes of offensive promise, but not enough consistent firepower to overcome defensive lapses or interior mismatches. When the Gamecocks shoot well, they can hang with just about anybody. But when the shots don’t fall - or when they can’t get stops - the margin for error shrinks fast.
A Nod to the Past
At halftime, South Carolina honored members of its 2005 and 2006 NIT championship teams. Weather kept some away, but several key figures made it back to Colonial Life Arena, including Tre Kelley, Carlos Powell, John Chappell, Rocky Trice, Brandon Wallace, and graduate assistant Brian Rosefeld. It was a reminder of what this program has achieved - and what it’s still chasing.
Looking Ahead
Next up, the Gamecocks head to Texas on Feb. 3.
If they can bring the same fight they showed against LSU - and couple it with a more consistent offensive performance - they’ll give themselves a shot. But in the SEC, effort is just the beginning.
Execution has to follow.