Overview
- Strong delivered a career high with 30 points on 10-of-15 shooting, going 4-for-4 from three in Baton Rouge.
- South Carolina seized control with a 50-25 halftime lead after opening 9-for-9 from the field and hitting 10-of-13 threes before the break.
- LSU’s late 12-3 surge cut the margin to 66-60 with 6:22 left before Strong scored four straight points to halt the push.
- Meechie Johnson added 19 points for the Gamecocks and Eli Ellis contributed 10 off the bench.
- LSU was led by Max Mackinnon’s 15 points, with Pablo Tamba and PJ Carter adding 10 apiece and Mike Nwoko grabbing 13 rebounds; South Carolina now hosts No. 18 Georgia on Saturday, while LSU visits No. 11 Vanderbilt to follow their 12-3 (0-2 SEC) start.