LSU Men’s Basketball secured a much-needed conference victory against the South Carolina Gamecocks, completing the game in dominating fashion by a final score of 81-67.
Leading the team in scoring, LSU senior guard Cam Carter facilitated the Tigers’ offensive production with a team-high 17 points and remained efficient from the field (7/14 FG).
Additionally, Carter knocked down three three-pointers and grabbed a sneaky four rebounds.
However, one particular play left the purple and gold faithful inside the PMAC in absolute awe.
With just over two minutes remaining in the first half, the Tigers were sitting with a comfortable 36-22 lead over the Gamecocks. Coming out of an official timeout, Carter made a decisive cut to the basket, received a perfect pass from freshman forward Robert Miller III, and posterized his defender in electrifying fashion.
After this momentum-shifting play, the Tigers kept their foot on the pedal and closed the door on any opportunity for the Gamecocks to make the scoring competitive. The largest lead of the game was a 21-point deficit at the halfway mark in the second half.
When examining other key contributors, sophomore guard Mike Williams III provided a surprising spark off the bench.
Throughout his 14 minutes of playing time, Williams scored 13 points on extremely efficient shooting from behind the arc (3-4 3PT) and stretched the floor spacing allowing his teammates to be more involved as well.
Entering this matchup, the Tigers’ starting lineup consisted of four guards (Vyctorius Miller, Curtis Givens III, Dji Bailey, and Cam Carter) and only one forward (Daimion Collins). While perceived as risky and constrained to work around injuries, the small ball plan worked to perfection.
Freshman guard Vyctorius Miller continues to gain confidence on the court and formulate his identity in the Tigers’ offensive scheme. He scored 12 points and connected on three three-pointers.
South Carolina senior guard Jamarii Thomas finished with a game-high 23 points (9-16 FG and 3-6 3PT), five rebounds, and three assists. Projected as a first-round prospect, Thomas continues to raise his stock for the upcoming, highly-anticipated 2025 NBA Draft.
Four players finished with double-digit points, and the Tigers’ shooting splits were remarkable.
Finishing the game strong, shooting 50% FG and 43.3% 3PT, and pulling away with this conference win is essential to building momentum and increasing team morale for the onslaught of ranked SEC opponents looking toward the remainder of the regular season.
Following seven consecutive conference losses, the Tigers have now won back-to-back conference games and two straight games for the first time since late December, back when the team was in non-conference play.
Approaching arguably the most intimidating game of the season, LSU Men’s Basketball will face off against the No.2-ranked Florida Gators on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. CST at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center and have their sights on potentially securing a massive upset win.
