By Hunt Palmer
THE STORY: LSU put together a full 60 minutes on Tuesday night.
Yes, South Carolina is the worst team in the league. Yes, LSU was at home. Yes, moving to 3-10 in the SEC is still moving to 3-10 in the SEC.
Still, the Tigers scored 10 of the game’s first 14 points and never allowed South Carolina to create any momentum over the course of an 81-67 win in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
South Carolina never scored consecutive baskets in the final 15 minutes of the first half, and the Gamecocks’ most productive push was a run that cut a 16-point LSU lead to nine with 17:17 to play in the game. It never got closer, and LSU led by double figures for all but 33 seconds of the final 17 minutes.
The lead reached as many as 20 with 3:19 to go.
LSU was able to create offense throughout the game, shooting 50 percent from the floor and making 13-of-30 threes. And not all of it came from Cam Carter.
Meanwhile, the Tiger defense clamped down on a clunky Gamecock offense that turned the ball over 18 times leading to 23 LSU points. Finally, the turnover margin truly swung LSU’s way.
After a three-week stretch of blowout losses and some heartbreak, LSU has a two-game winning streak to its name and an extra day of preparation coming for a Saturday tip against Florida.
This matchup always favored the Tigers, but it was up to LSU to respond to a dramatic win on Saturday without a letdown against the lone winless team in the conference.
LSU did just that.
THE STATS: LSU dished out 19 assists and turned the ball over just 10 times. The Tigers have averaged less than 10 turnovers per game over the last four games.
Jordan Sears had five assists. Vyctorius Miller had four assists. Robert Miller had three assists. Daimion Collins had three assists.
LSU shot 13-for-30 from three-point range for 43 percent.
Vyctorius Miller, Carter and Mike Williams all made three three-pointers.
LSU led for 38:45 of the 40 minute game.
South Carolina committed 18 turnovers and shot just 8-for-19 on layups.
LSU attempted 11 more field goals and 11 more threes.
The Gamecocks came into the game No. 19 in the country in free throw attempts per game with 23.4 per game. They only got to the line for 15 tries on Tuesday.
LSU won bench points 30-15.
Four Tigers finished in double figures including Williams for the first time all season.
Vyctorius Miller played a team-high 33 minutes.
Givens did not turn the ball over in 26 minutes.
