Down in Baton Rouge, the South Carolina Gamecocks didn't just win on Tuesday night, they dominated early, boomed the roof off, and then survived the late push to walk out with a huge SEC road victory. The Gamecocks built a 25-point first-half lead after making their first nine shots, including a flawless 6-for-6 start from three-point range. Four of those early daggers came from Elijah Strong, who set the tone with confidence and rhythm.
The Gamecocks finished the night shooting a season-high 57.1% from beyond the arc (12-of-21), a number that tells the story on its own. Under Lamont Paris, the Gamecocks are now 7-0 over the last four seasons when shooting better than 50% from three. That is a clear indicator of how this system hums when spacing and ball movement click.
Elijah Strong Takes Over as Gamecocks Control LSU from the Jump
Elijah Strong exploded for a career-high 30 points, going 10-for-15 from the floor, and drilling every one of his four three-point attempts. It was that surgical precision that flipped the Tigers’ defense on its head. South Carolina came out strong from deep right away, hitting early threes, and racing to a 28-point first-half lead that LSU simply couldn’t answer in real time.
Meechie Johnson was like dynamite off the bench with 19 points, multiple threes, energizing the team with his presence on the court. Eli Ellis added double figures also, keeping the Gamecock attack consistent against the Tigers.
Mike Sharavjamts quietly matched his season high with seven assists for the third time this year. More impressively, he logged a team-high 36 minutes without committing a single turnover, controlling tempo and keeping Carolina steady when LSU tried to speed things up.
Gamecocks Show Poise as LSU Pushes Back Late
But LSU didn’t just quit. The Tigers clawed back with energy in the second half, trimming the lead to six and forcing South Carolina to really close it out. But every time LSU threatened, the Gamecocks had an answer, and that composure matters in SEC battles like this.
Beyond the scoring, the Gamecock defense and tempo control were the highlight of the game. South Carolina forced turnovers and controlled possessions when it mattered, which turned a big lead into a rock-solid win on the road.
What This Means for South Carolina
This wasn't just another win, it was a moment of arrival for the Gamecocks for the 2026 season. A statement road win like this sends a signal through the rest of the SEC that South Carolina has the potential to dominate.
Up next, South Carolina will return home and shift their focus on Georgia on Saturday. Tip is set for 2 p.m. ET on ESPN2.