LSU Associate Head Coach David Patrick watched on as his side demonstrated remarkable composure to secure a gritty 92-87 overtime victory over South Carolina at a snow-swept Colonial Life Arena on Saturday. The win marks the Tigers' 14th of the campaign and their second in league play, providing a vital boost to their conference standings.
The contest was a cagey affair from the outset, played before a limited crowd due to inclement weather in Columbia. After a relentless back-and-forth battle in regulation, the teams headed into the extra session deadlocked at 78-78. Patrick’s influence was evident as LSU seized the momentum early in overtime, scoring the first three points and never relinquishing the lead during the five-minute period.
The tension peaked in the final ninety seconds after a bucket from South Carolina’s Meechie Johnson brought the Gamecocks within a single point at 85-84. With the game hanging in the balance at 86-85 and only 39 seconds remaining, LSU executed a clinical set play out of a timeout. Pablo Tamba showed exceptional vision to find Max Mackinnon open on the right wing, who drained a clutch three-pointer to extend the Tiger lead to four.
The closing seconds saw a strategic chess match at the free-throw line. After Rashad King pushed the lead back to three, LSU elected to foul intentionally to prevent a potential game-tying three-point attempt. The gamble paid off as Johnson missed the first of two free throws and failed to draw iron on an intentional second-shot miss, handing possession back to the Tigers with 3.8 seconds on the clock.
LSU added an exclamation point to the win as Marquel Sutton slipped behind the defense to receive a long pass from Mackinnon, punctuating the victory with a dunk as time expired. For Patrick, whose impact on the high-major landscape has been widely recognized this season, the victory underscores his team's evolving ability to navigate high-pressure road environments.
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