LSU Dominates South Carolina, Extends Win Streak with Commanding Performance
BATON ROUGE, La. — Riding the high of Saturday’s victory over Oklahoma, LSU came into Tuesday night’s matchup against South Carolina with momentum—and it showed. From the opening tip, the Tigers played with confidence and swagger, overwhelming a winless-in-SEC-play Gamecocks squad in a dominant 81-67 victory.
Fast and Fearless: LSU’s Small-Ball Success
Head coach Matt McMahon rolled out a small-ball lineup featuring Cam Carter, Vyctorius Miller, Dji Bailey, Curtis Givens III, and Daimion Collins—and it paid off. The smaller, faster unit stretched the floor, outran South Carolina, and controlled the rebounding battle despite a size disadvantage.
The Tigers’ quick pace and 6-for-13 shooting from deep helped them storm out to a 41-27 halftime lead—a notable turnaround for a team that had struggled to lead at halftime in SEC play until this recent stretch.
Second-Half Surge Seals the Deal
South Carolina came out firing in the second half with a 7-0 run, momentarily testing LSU’s composure. But the Tigers answered in a flash—Carter drained two threes, Givens III knocked down another, and Bailey hit a jumper, shutting the door on any hopes of a comeback. The lead ballooned to 21 points before McMahon emptied his bench, sealing the win.
Carter Leads the Charge, Collins’ Grit Stands Out
For the second straight game, Cam Carter was LSU’s engine, dropping 17 points on 50% shooting, including 43% from beyond the arc, while adding four rebounds and two steals.
Off the bench, Mike Williams was lights out, scoring 13 points on 3-for-4 shooting from deep. Vyctorius Miller contributed 12 points, proving to be a strong backcourt complement to Carter.
However, the heart of the Tigers’ effort was Daimion Collins. Playing through a serious shoulder injury, he anchored LSU’s defense, affecting nearly every shot inside. His stat line—8 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks—doesn’t fully capture his impact as the lone big man battling in the paint all night.
LSU’s Postseason Push?
The win moves LSU to 14-12 (3-10 SEC), and while beating South Carolina (a Quad 3 opponent) doesn’t shake up the NET Rankings (LSU entered at No. 82), it does keep their outside NCAA Tournament hopes alive.
With five Quad 1 matchups remaining before the SEC Tournament, LSU has a golden opportunity. If the Tigers can carry this momentum and pull off a few upsets, they could position themselves for a deep SEC Tournament run—and maybe even a surprise bid to the Big Dance.
