BATON ROUGE, La. (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of form, the South Carolina Gamecocks rode a blistering first-half offensive clinic and a career-high 30 points from Elijah Strong to upset the LSU Tigers 78-68 in a Southeastern Conference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at a subdued Maravich Assembly Center.

The Gamecocks, entering as 6.5-point underdogs against a Tigers squad given a 74% probability to win, improved to 10-5 overall and 1-1 in the SEC. LSU, which had lost just twice in its first 14 games, fell to 12-3 and 0-2 in conference play.

The story of the game was written in two starkly different halves. South Carolina came out with surgical precision, building a 25-point halftime lead that proved insurmountable despite a frantic LSU comeback attempt after intermission.

South Carolina’s first half was a masterpiece of efficient offense and disruptive defense. The Gamecocks shot 57.1% from the field and a scorching 8-of-12 from three-point range in the opening period. They scored 50 points while committing just one turnover, exploiting LSU’s mistakes to build a massive advantage.

Elijah Strong, a 6-foot-8 forward from Charlotte, North Carolina, was the catalyst. He scored 19 of his 30 points before halftime, including three three-pointers in the game’s first four minutes that set an immediate tone. His early flurry helped South Carolina sprint to a 17-3 lead, forcing LSU into an early timeout just over three minutes into the contest.

LSU, by contrast, was disjointed and careless. The Tigers shot a dismal 29% in the first half and committed nine turnovers, which South Carolina converted into 13 points. The Tigers’ 25 first-half points represented a season low for a half.

The most important sequence of the game, however, came as LSU mounted its inevitable charge in the second half. Energized by the home crowd of 6,303, the Tigers chipped away at the deficit with increased defensive pressure and improved shot-making. A 15-4 run out of the locker room, capped by a Pablo Tamba layup and free throw, cut the lead to 14 and forced a South Carolina timeout with 17:34 remaining.

The Tigers continued to press, with Max Mackinnon of Brisbane, Australia, leading the charge. His three-pointer with 12:05 left brought LSU within 48-41, capping a 22-7 run to start the half and turning the game into a tense, single-digit affair. The Tigers’ defense had tightened, and their work on the offensive glass—they finished with 16 offensive rebounds—was generating second chances.

Facing the full force of the comeback, South Carolina’s composure was tested. The answer came from Strong and point guard Meechie Johnson. After LSU closed to within seven, Strong scored on a tough layup in traffic to steady his team. On the ensuing possession, Mike Sharavjamts of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, stole the ball from Mackinnon, leading to a transition opportunity. Although the initial shot missed, Strong secured a critical defensive rebound moments later and hit a mid-range jumper off a Sharavjamts assist to push the lead back to 52-43.

LSU would get no closer than seven points the rest of the way. Every time the Tigers threatened, South Carolina found a response, often at the free-throw line where they shot 16-of-21 for the game. Johnson, who finished with 19 points and six assists, and Eli Ellis, who added 10 points, made key plays down the stretch to seal the victory.

While LSU won the second half 43-28, the first-half hole was simply too deep. The Tigers finished the game shooting just 38.7% from the field and 32% from three-point range. They were hampered by 14 total turnovers, which South Carolina turned into 19 points. The Gamecocks, despite being outrebounded 41-28, won the possession battle decisively by committing only four turnovers all night, leading to an offensive rating of 125.9 points per 100 possessions.

For LSU, Mackinnon led the way with 15 points, while Tamba, PJ Carter of Atlanta, and Robert Miller of Houston each scored 10. Miller added three assists and two blocks. But the Tigers’ offensive struggles, particularly from their backcourt, were evident as they managed only four total assists against South Carolina’s eight steals.

The Gamecocks’ defensive game plan, focused on ball pressure and forcing LSU into contested jumpers, was executed flawlessly for 20 minutes and just well enough over the final 20. Strong’s monumental performance, surpassing his previous season-high of 17 points set just three days prior, was the defining individual effort. He shot 9-of-15 from the field, including 4-of-7 from deep, and added three assists in just 25 minutes of action.

South Carolina will look to build on the momentum when it hosts Georgia on Saturday. LSU, seeking its first SEC win, hits the road to face Vanderbilt on the same day. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Columbia on Jan. 31.