The Gamecock men's basketball team (11-11, 2-7 SEC) fell to .500 for the first time this season, losing to LSU (14-8, 2-7 SEC) 92-87 in overtime Saturday afternoon at Colonial Life Arena.
LSU took the opening possession, and senior guard Rashad King knocked down the first shot of the game, a 3-pointer.
However, the Gamecocks didn’t flinch going back down the other end, where junior forward Elijah Strong found graduate guard Myles Stute for a posterizing dunk to get the Gamecocks on the board.
Maintaining a high pace at both ends, the Tigers took a 10-6 lead less than three minutes into the game before the defenses settled in, halting the scoring until after the game's first media timeout.
Out of the timeout, redshirt senior guard Kobe Knox got into the action, knocking down a smooth jump shot.
Despite some early offensive success, defense has not been the theme of the Gamecocks' season, and LSU found it all too easy to get layups and quality shots in the paint.
At the end of a 7-0 Tiger run that saw the lead grow to double digits, Gamecock redshirt senior guard Meechie Johnson got to the free-throw line for his first points of the first half.
Without any rhythm offensively, the Gamecocks slowed down and accumulated multiple two-minute scoring droughts midway through the opening period.
The Tigers' offense continued to go through the paint, where fifth-year senior forward Marquel Sutton drove in for an and-one layup. He would go on to make the free throw to give LSU its biggest lead of the game at 13.
However, a media timeout allowed head coach Lamont Paris to settle the team for a moment, and it put together a 10-0 run, capped off by an emphatic jam by senior guard Mike Sharavjamts that shrunk the LSU lead to 3 points.
Following another two-minute drought for the Gamecocks, Johnson hit a deep 3-pointer that was immediately answered by the Tigers. But the Gamecocks ended the half strong with a 3-pointer from freshman guard Eli Ellis and a tough layup from Johnson at the buzzer to go into halftime trailing 36-35.
On the other side of the break, LSU began the half with a jumper off of a lob from graduate forward Pablo Tamba.
Finding success in the interior, both teams got to the charity stripe early in the second half, in addition to matching each other on 3-pointers on the ensuing possessions. Stute made his second bucket of the game before Johnson found himself back at the free-throw line, where he got the Gamecocks back to a 1-point deficit.
South Carolina's defense improved, and Johnson hit a 3-pointer to tie the game for the first since the opening tipoff.
Finding their footing in the second, the Gamecocks used an 8-0 run following a media timeout to give them their first lead.
Nonetheless, the Tigers answered. Despite a third long ball from Ellis, LSU found itself either in the paint or at the free-throw line with a good look.
Scrapping on the offensive end, the Gamecocks would not go away. Good passing led to a layup from Knox that put the Gamecocks back in front despite LSU making seven straight field goals.
As the game continued down the stretch, Johnson knocked down timely baskets and led the way on the offensive end for the Gamecocks.
The physicality also ramped up as fatigue set in for both teams. A flagrant foul from LSU's King allowed Ellis to get into double figures and tie the game at 74. Following another controversial play that was reviewed and met with boos from the home fans, LSU regained the lead.
On the other end, however, Ellis had his legs cut out from under him, sending the freshman back to the line, where he made both shots to tie it up again with less than two minutes remaining.
The Tigers had a chance for a go-ahead bucket late in the second but were stopped off the heels of a trap at midcourt that forced a jump ball with 1.6 seconds remaining on the shot clock.
Defending well, the Gamecocks found themselves with the last shot of regulation, which came up short after a halfcourt heave from Johnson.
Continuing to frequent the paint in overtime, every shot was through contact for both sides. Johnson continued to attack, getting to the line and hitting a smooth jumper to contribute 4 of the 9 Gamecock points of the extra period.
A free throw for Sutton kept LSU in front 86-84, prior to Knox splitting his shots from the line on the next possession.
Following a Gamecock timeout late in overtime, LSU hit its first field goal of the period, which extended the lead to two possessions.
The last opportunity for the team came up short after Johnson could not retain possession on an attempt to miss a free throw on purpose but did not hit the rim. LSU inbounded cleanly and threw down a final blow, ending the game 92-87.
What's next?
The Gamecocks will head to Austin, Texas, to face off against the Texas Longhorns. The game is set for Feb. 3 and will tip off at 7 p.m. on the SEC Network.