Even after a thrilling 69-67 overtime victory against No. 23 Mississippi State on Tuesday, the LSU men’s basketball players aren’t feeling cocky.
They can’t be. The Tigers, who hit the road to face the South Carolina Gamecocks tomorrow, haven’t won a Southeastern Conference game away from home this season, totaling five losses.
“A win like [Mississippi State] can create some momentum,” said sophomore guard Ralston Turner, who led LSU with 17 points in Tuesday’s victory. “We needed that game, but we can’t start slow again like we did to get down 17. It’s about consistency, especially on the road.”
LSU (15-10, 5-6 SEC) will have its best chance yet to reverse that ugly stat, as USC (10-15, 2-9 SEC) sits last in the conference.
But the Gamecocks snapped a five-game skid their last time out, clipping Georgia, 57-56, at home Wednesday.
“[USC is] playing with as much purpose as anybody in the conference,” said LSU coach Trent Johnson. “That speaks volumes to how they’re competing. There’s no room for a let-down anywhere in the SEC.”
The Tigers hit the road with a two-game league winning streak, the team’s first this season. Junior center Justin Hamilton said defense will be the key to carry that momentum forward.
“It always starts on defense for us,” Hamilton said. “You’ll always go a possession or three struggling on offense, but defense is how you stop easy baskets and keep crowds from getting into the game.”
The Gamecocks shoot a paltry 30 percent beyond the arc and average just 59 points per game in conference play. LSU is 13-1 this season when it holds opponents to fewer than 60 points in regulation.
The road has also put the spotlight on LSU freshman point guard Anthony Hickey, whose game-winning shot Tuesday against the Bulldogs was the highlight of a stellar first season thus far.
But the youngster has struggled with full-court pressure in road games, turning the ball over five times per contest, and South Carolina will likely push perimeter pressure on the Tigers.
“They’re fast and crowd you on the perimeter,” Hickey said. “I know [Gamecocks] coach [Darrin] Horn likes to let their guards play quick, probably try to trap us a little.”
Junior forward Malik Cooke leads South Carolina in scoring with 12.2 points per game.
But Cooke likely won’t be the primary threat to a stingy LSU defense.
Sophomore guard Bruce Ellington played in the Gamecocks’ backfield on the gridiron, but he is also a dynamic backcourt threat on
the hardwood.
“He’s a special player,” Johnson said. “Usually football players come in a little clumsy and play power forward or something. Not Ellington. He’s out on the wing and handling the ball. That’s impressive.”
Ellington is averaging 10.4 points and 3.2 assists per game.
 
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Contact Chris Abshire at [email protected]