Just when it looked like things were getting better, they took a turn. It was a bad day for LSU in Columbia, South Carolina.
LSU got out in front in the first half thanks to Darius Days and Tari Eason leading the scoring charge.
In the first half, Days and Eason combined for 24 points and eight rebounds. Most of Days’ points in the half came from behind the arch, where he was three of five.
There was a worrisome moment in the first half where Xavier Pinson lost his footing and was slow to get up with a knee injury. Pinson’s absence earlier in the season showed he’s a critical element of this team. The team received positive news as Pinson shortly returned to the game.
South Carolina was able to go on a run to close out the half thanks to an offensive explosion from Jermaine Cousinard, who went into the locker room with 18 points.
South Carolina came out of halftime with some of that momentum, but LSU eventually regained control.
That didn’t last for long as it became a back-and-forth shootout.
Eason and Days continued to lead the way for LSU but Jermaine Cousinard remained hot for South Carolina.
It all came down to the final seconds when LSU got the ball back down one. Pinson dribbled around, but the Gamecocks played solid defense, forcing a kick out to Days.
Days took the corner three but missed.
South Carolina got the rebound with enough time for LSU to foul. South Carolina made one of two from the line and gave LSU the ball back down two with 1.5 seconds.
Inbounding from under their own basket, LSU wasn’t able to do anything with it.
This is a bad loss for an LSU team that looked like it was gaining some momentum again. South Carolina is a decent team. They’re in the top 100. And yes, this game was on the road, but it still hurts in the grand scheme of things. Until this point, South Carolina’s best win was against UAB.
LSU turned the ball over too much, didn’t make enough free throws, and blew more than one double-digit lead.
LSU is still bound for the NCAA tournament but they are slipping closer to a No. 8 seed than to the top four seed they once looked like.
Next up is a road trip to Kentucky in what could be LSU’s toughest game of the year.