- Matchup: South Carolina Gamecocks vs LSU Tigers
- Date: Tuesday, January 6, 2026
- Venue: Pete Maravich Assembly Center, Baton Rouge, LA
- Broadcast: ESPNU
This page may include affiliate links at no extra cost to you, thanks for your support.
The LSU Tigers, sporting a record of 12-2, will take on the South Carolina Gamecocks, who are 9-5, at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center this Tuesday.
In their most recent outing, the South Carolina Gamecocks faced off against Vanderbilt but fell short, losing 83-71. South Carolina recorded a field goal percentage of 43.1% (25 of 58) and converted 7 of 28 attempts from beyond the arc. From the free throw line, they were quite efficient, making 14 of 18 shots for an impressive 77.8% conversion rate. On rebounding, they secured 24 boards, with 5 coming offensively. The team also managed 15 assists while forcing 7 turnovers and achieving 4 steals. Defensively, South Carolina allowed Vanderbilt to shoot 50.9% from the floor, hitting 29 of 57 attempts. Vanderbilt had 17 assists and 2 steals, alongside 36 rebounds (8 offensive, 28 defensive) but didn’t record any blocks. At the charity stripe, Vanderbilt was successful 15 of 18 times (83.3%) and managed to hit 10 out of 23 three-point attempts. Both teams finished the game committing 15 personal fouls.
One standout player for South Carolina was Elijah Strong, who contributed 17 points on 6 of 12 shooting over 20 minutes, alongside 4 rebounds and 2 assists.
Heading into this matchup, South Carolina holds a 9-5 record this season, averaging 80.3 points per game, placing them 124th in Division 1. They’re shooting 46.7% from the field and 30.8% from three (121 of 393), while converting 79.4% of their free throws. As a collective, the Gamecocks average 34.5 rebounds and have dished out 214 assists this season, ranking them 193rd in college basketball. They turn the ball over 9.9 times per game and commit an average of 17.2 fouls.
On the defensive side, the Gamecocks force an average of 10.1 turnovers each game while racking up 18.0 personal fouls. They are ranked 115th in the nation for assists allowed, with 183 given up this season. South Carolina is allowing their opponents to shoot 42.9% from the field (355 of 827) and conceding an average of 32.9 rebounds a game. Opponents are shooting 30.2% from three-point range, and South Carolina ranks 90th in the nation in points allowed per game, giving up 69.3.
The last outing for the LSU Tigers saw them narrowly defeated by Texas A&M, ending the game with a score of 75-72. In that game, LSU allowed Texas A&M to grab a total of 37 rebounds (14 offensive). They shot 28.6% from three-point range (8 of 28), hitting 15 of 21 free throws (71.4%). Texas A&M hit 26 of 62 field goal attempts, finishing with a 41.9% shooting percentage. LSU, meanwhile, made 25 of 54 attempts (46.3% from the field) and hit 6 out of 19 three-point attempts (31.6%). The Tigers capitalized on 20 free throw attempts, converting 16 for an excellent 80.0% showing. Texas A&M committed 15 fouls, giving LSU opportunities at the line. The Tigers forced 14 turnovers while securing 30 rebounds overall, 23 of which were defensive.
Michael Nwoko was a key player for the Tigers in this game, finishing with 21 points after going 7 of 10 from the field (70.0%) and grabbing 5 rebounds, while also contributing 1 assist over 26 minutes of play.
LSU currently holds a record of 12-2 this season, averaging 18.0 personal fouls per game and shooting 78.1% from the free throw line. They average 15.9 assists per game, ranking 106th in the country, while committing 10.9 turnovers. Overall, the Tigers have scored a total of 1,229 points this season, translating to an impressive 87.8 points per game, and they average 39.4 rebounds each outing. LSU is shooting a remarkable 51.1% from the field, ranking them 19th in Division 1.
Defensively, LSU allows opponents to shoot 33.2% from three-point range (113 of 340) and gives up 67.5% free throw shooting. They permit 11.1 assists and 32.4 rebounds a game, ranking 42nd and 81st in the nation, respectively. In terms of points allowed, the Tigers rank 130th overall with a defensive average of 71.3 points against. They manage to force 11.1 turnovers per game and hold opponents to 40.4% shooting from the field, which places them 57th in Division 1.
Which team will prevail against the spread in tonight’s NCAA showdown?
Recommendation: Back South Carolina
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up or make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission always at no extra cost to you. Thanks for helping us keep this site running.
