South Carolina vs. LSU: Key Factors to Watch, Opponent Breakdown, and Injury Updates

South Carolina is hoping to break its 12-game losing streak as it heads to Baton Rouge for a late tip-off against LSU.

The Gamecocks (10-15, 0-12 SEC) will face off with the LSU Tigers (13-12, 2-10 SEC) at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center (PMAC) tonight, with tip-off scheduled for 9 p.m. on SEC Network. Let’s dive into some key things to keep an eye on in this matchup, as well as the latest updates on both teams.

Key to Avoiding Another Blowout: The Big Run South Carolina has struggled throughout this season with one common theme: the inability to recover from large runs by their opponents. This was painfully evident in their most recent loss to Florida, where they only trailed by four points at halftime. But as has happened too often, the second half told a different story. A 27-9 run by the Gators out of the break led to a 20-point deficit for the Gamecocks, and they couldn’t claw back, falling by double digits. This marked the fifth time in SEC play that South Carolina has suffered a blowout loss.

If they want any chance at winning tonight, they must avoid letting LSU dominate the second half. Should the game be close at the break, South Carolina needs to take control early in the second half—scoring efficiently and playing solid defense. Otherwise, it could be another long night for the Gamecocks.

An Unexpected Twist in LSU’s Performance Initially, this game seemed like one of South Carolina’s more winnable matchups. However, LSU comes into this game on the heels of a surprising road victory over Oklahoma. With a 2-10 SEC record, the Tigers now sit two games ahead of the Gamecocks at the bottom of the standings, but the win gives them momentum going into this contest.

South Carolina has struggled on the road this season, posting a 1-7 record away from Colonial Life Arena. Their lone road victory came back in early December at Boston College, and they’ve only had one SEC road game that came down to the wire, a narrow three-point loss to Vanderbilt. Other than that, their road losses have all been by double digits. For the Gamecocks to pull off an upset tonight, they’ll need to defy the odds—winning on the road in the SEC is no easy feat.

CMB Needs to Be More Aggressive South Carolina’s sophomore forward Collin Murray-Boyles has been a solid playmaker for the Gamecocks, but his recent performance against Florida raised some concerns. Murray-Boyles only took eight shots, finishing with 12 points on 3-of-8 shooting. He also grabbed just two rebounds. While his unselfishness is valuable, South Carolina will be better off if he takes more shots—ideally 15 or more. The Gamecocks are relying on him to step up and lead the offense if they’re going to have any shot at breaking their losing streak.

Opponent Scouting Report: LSU For a deeper look at the LSU Tigers, you can check out our full scouting report here. LSU, though struggling in conference play, has proven they can still compete, as seen in their win over Oklahoma. With Daimion Collins, Corey Chest, and Derek Fountain all listed as probable for tonight’s game, the Tigers will be a tough challenge for South Carolina, who has been shorthanded all season.

Injury Report For South Carolina: Myles Stute is OUT due to a blood clot.

For LSU: Trey’Dez Green and Jalen Reed are OUT, while Daimion Collins, Corey Chest, and Derek Fountain are all listed as PROBABLE.

Game Details

• Who: South Carolina (10-15, 0-12 SEC) vs. LSU (13-12, 2-10 SEC)
• When: Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 9 p.m.
• Where: Pete Maravich Assembly Center (13,215 capacity)
• How to Watch/Listen: SEC Network and 107.5 The Game

ESPN gives South Carolina just a 30.5% chance to win, but the Gamecocks will be hoping to defy those odds tonight in Baton Rouge.

Stay tuned for live updates, and let’s see if South Carolina can snap their streak!