South Carolina Pulls Away Late to Beat LSU 79-72 in Baton Rouge
BATON ROUGE, La. — Tessa Johnson scored 21 points and Raven Johnson added 19 as No. 3 South Carolina rallied past No. 6 LSU, 79-72, on Saturday night, Feb. 14, 2026. The Gamecocks extended their streak over the Tigers to 18 straight wins and improved to 25-2 (11-1 SEC) with a road victory at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
Johnson duo spearheads late run
South Carolina leaned on its backcourt duo down the stretch. Tessa Johnson’s 21-point night included timely 3-pointers and aggression in the halfcourt; she remains one of the nation’s most efficient long-range shooters. Raven Johnson complemented her with 19 points and steady playmaking, combining for 40 of the Gamecocks’ 79 points.
The visitors trailed for much of the first half — LSU led for just over four minutes in the opening 20 — but flipped a 21-16 first-quarter deficit into a 41-40 halftime advantage. South Carolina’s second-quarter shooting from beyond the arc (5 of 9) allowed the visitors to stay within striking distance before opening the third on a 9-2 stretch that pushed the lead to 50-42.
Madina Okot provided a physical interior presence, finishing with a double-double of 12 points and 17 rebounds. Joyce Edwards chipped in 10 points and served as a reliable interior scorer in close possessions late in the game.
LSU had chances, missed critical finishes
LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson led the Tigers with 21 points and eight rebounds, and Mikaylah Williams added 11. The home team matched South Carolina’s intensity in spurts, taking small leads several times in the second quarter and pushing the Gamecocks to the limit in the fourth.
But LSU’s miscues in the paint and at the free-throw line proved costly. The Tigers missed 10 layups and nine free throws over the night, leaving points off the board in tight moments. Trailing 73-72 late, LSU had an opportunity to grab the lead with 45. 5 seconds remaining; Flau’jae Johnson missed two free throws and the Gamecocks closed the game on a decisive 6-0 run.
Okot’s driving layup with 25. 5 seconds left put South Carolina up by three, and her two free throws with 16. 1 seconds remaining pushed the margin to five and sealed the outcome. LSU had rallied earlier in the fourth — scoring on four straight possessions at one stretch — but was unable to find the finishing touches when it mattered most.
What this means and what’s next
The victory maintains South Carolina’s status near the top of the league and keeps momentum intact as the schedule ramps up. The Gamecocks travel next to face No. 23 Alabama on Thursday in another crucial SEC test.
LSU falls to 22-4 (8-4 SEC) but showed fight at home in front of a packed crowd. The Tigers head back on the road Thursday to take on Ole Miss, looking to clean up the breakdowns at the rim and from the charity stripe that undermined their comeback bid on Saturday.
In a matchup billed as a top-10 showdown, turnovers at the rim and late free-throw misses ultimately decided a tight contest. South Carolina’s balanced attack and timely execution down the stretch were the difference, preserving the Gamecocks’ long-running dominance in this series and delivering a statement road win on Feb. 14, 2026.
