South Carolina Pulls Away Late to Beat No. 6 LSU, 79-72 in Baton Rouge
South Carolina’s guards Tessa Johnson and Raven Johnson combined for 40 points and the Gamecocks pulled away late to down sixth-ranked LSU, 79-72, Saturday night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The loss drops LSU to 22-4 overall and 8-4 in Southeastern Conference play, while South Carolina improved to 25-2 and 11-1.
Game summary: close through three, decisive finish for visitors
In front of a sold-out crowd of 13, 200, the matchup lived up to its billing as a tightly contested top-10 meeting. LSU opened aggressively, taking a 21-16 lead after the first quarter behind early scoring from Flau’jae Johnson and ZaKiyah Johnson. The second quarter swung slightly toward South Carolina, which outscored LSU 25-19 and took a 41-40 lead into the locker room thanks in large part to Tessa and Raven Johnson’s hot shooting.
The Gamecocks extended their advantage in the third, carrying a 60-55 lead to the fourth quarter. LSU repeatedly fought back in the final period, cutting the margin to a single possession several times, but South Carolina managed to manufacture the stops and timely baskets needed to hold the lead and separate late. The Tigers kept the game within reach but could not complete the comeback in the closing minutes.
Key performers and statistical notes
Senior guard Flau’jae Johnson led LSU with a game-high 21 points and added eight rebounds. Junior Mikaylah Williams provided a secondary scoring punch with 11 points. The Tigers leaned on their veteran scorers in stretches but struggled to contain South Carolina’s backcourt combination.
For the visitors, the tandem of Tessa Johnson and Raven Johnson was the difference. The pair combined for 40 points—more than half of South Carolina’s scoring—and paced the Gamecocks in crucial stretches. Tessa’s perimeter accuracy and Raven’s playmaking and scoring balance forced LSU to chase defensively throughout the contest. South Carolina’s efficiency in the paint and from long distance at times put pressure on the Tigers to respond.
LSU’s first-half offense featured solid contributions from its leaders, with Flau’jae Johnson tallying 14 points before the break on 6-of-10 shooting. Jada Richard added key free throws down the stretch of the third, helping keep LSU within one possession as the fourth quarter began. Still, defensive lapses in the final period and a few missed chances on offense limited LSU’s ability to retake the lead.
Looking ahead: Tigers travel to Oxford
LSU will head to Oxford for a road game against Ole Miss on Thursday at 9: 00 p. m. ET. The Tigers will need to regroup quickly, shore up late-game defense and find more offensive balance beyond their primary scorers to rebound in conference play.
Saturday’s result underscored the fine margins in the SEC this season: a handful of plays in the fourth quarter separated the teams in a matchup that featured two of the conference’s elite programs. LSU retains the talent and depth to challenge in the league, but the Tigers now face a stretch of critical matchups where execution in close games will determine their positioning down the stretch.
