South Carolina had another frantic comeback fall short, and lost 86-80 to LSU.
South Carolina shot just 37.3 percent for the game and was under 30 percent for most of the second half. The Gamecocks missed everything: dunks, layups, contested threes, open threes. It’s tough to win any game shooting that poorly, but especially against LSU’s high-powered offense. Those misses led to runout opportunities and easy baskets for LSU
Darius Days made 4-5 threes in the first half and finished the game with 18 points. LSU shot 44.1 percent from the floor and committed 14 turnovers, numbers that were good enough to win (South Carolina even avoided fouling, and attempted more free throws than LSU before the numbers got skewed late) but Frank Martin was upset in the defensive effort.
“I’m disappointed in two games in a row where defensively our attention to detail and discipline has been really bad,” he said.
LSU led by 19 with five minutes to play and thousands of fans headed for the exits, but for the second game in a row, South Carolina launched a frantic comeback attempt. South Carolina made seven of its last ten shots and held LSU scoreless for more than three minutes and without a field goal for the final 5:11 as it chipped away at the lead. South Carolina was able to pull as close as four points, as South Carolina had to intentionally foul to prolong the game. As a team, LSU shoots 77 percent on free throws, second in the SEC and 16th in the country. The Tigers made seven of 10 in the final minute to hold on.
“The last two and a half minutes we actually ran around and they took the foot off the pedal so it looks like (we) played hard,” Martin said. “No we didn’t. We got our tails kicked.”
South Carolina got a strong game from Keyshawn Bryant, who broke out of his slump for his first career double-double. Bryant had a season-high 15 points and career-high 10 rebounds, along with a couple of his customary highlight dunks.
“It’s been very frustrating, but Frank always tells me I’ve got to find a way to build my confidence back up,” Bryant said. “I just keep going.”
Bryant was one of five Gamecocks in double figures. Jair Bolden and Jermaine Couisnard also had 15 points. AJ Lawson had 13 points and six rebounds. Maik Kotsar finished with 10 points, six rebounds, and two blocks. He scored six of the Gamecocks’ first eight points, but picked up his second foul with 12:28 left in the first half. Kotsar had to sit, though he did return later in the first half, and he wasn’t the same player after that.
“We were able to get a little bit of a working margin when Kotsar got in foul trouble in the first half,” Will Wade said. “They’re just not the same team without him.”
“He didn’t play well today, but he’s carried us for three months,” Martin said. “Our team let him down.”
Notes:
It was Pet Appreciation Day (2), with $1 hot dogs, collapsible water dishes, and the Flying Houndz Frizbee Trick Show at halftime. The Houndz who performed were Jaz, wearing pink of course, and Gizmo, who was a good boy even though he wore orange. … South Carolina wore its 1970s-inspired throwbacks. The Gamecocks are 4-2 in the throwbacks this season. … Wildens Leveque had five points and tied his career-high with eight rebounds. … LSU finished the game 25-31 from the line, 80.6 percent. South Carolina was 15-25, 60 percent, and missed a couple of front ends in the first half. … Jalyn McCrear, who missed the last game with a head injury, returned and was scoreless with two rebounds in six minutes. … Announced attendance was 15,979. … South Carolina’s next game is Wednesday against Georgia.
