Feb. 27, 2008

Final Stats | Quotes | Notes

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – Anthony Randolph scored 20 points and pulled down 10 rebounds as LSU won two in a row for the first time since late November, beating South Carolina 62-55 on Wednesday night.

The Gamecocks (12-15, 4-9 Southeastern Conference) led 49-44 on Zam Fredrick’s 3-pointer with 7:33 left, but the Tigers (11-16, 4-9) rallied to take a 50-49 lead on Randolph’s follow with 5:05 left.

The teams traded the lead four times over the next two minutes before Garrett Temple’s jumper gave the Tigers the lead for good at 54-53 with 3:02 left.

South Carolina made only one of its eight field goals in the final three minutes, while LSU hit six free throws in the final 31 seconds. The Tigers made all 14 free throws in the game, while the Gamecocks made all seven of their foul shots.

The win marks the first time LSU has won two straight games since beating Nicholls State and Southern on Nov. 28 and 30.

Fredrick scored 21 points to lead the Gamecocks after not starting for the first time this year because of a three-game slump in which he had hit just seven of 32 shots, including one of 14 3-pointers.

South Carolina’s Devan Downey, the SEC’s leading scorer at 19.7 points a game, was held to a season-low six points on 2-of-9 shooting.

Thornton had 14 points while Chris Johnson added 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Tigers, who out rebounded the Gamecocks 44-28.

LSU overcame six turnovers in its first 11 possessions and rallied from eight points down to take a 29-26 halftime lead on Temple’s fall-away 3-pointer from the corner that just beat the buzzer.

The Tigers outscored the Gamecocks 9-4 to open the second half to take their biggest lead at 38-30 on Garrett Green’s follow with 15:54 to go. But South Carolina rallied, scoring eight straight to go up 44-40 with 10:06 remaining on Fredrick’s dunk.