LSU looked finished in Spokane. Gonzaga had turned a two-point halftime deficit into a 13-point lead, and the Bulldogs seemed to have the game under control with just over eight minutes remaining.
Then Donovan Dent took over.
The UCLA transfer hit a 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds left, completing LSU’s rally for an 81-80 win over No. 14 Gonzaga. Dent finished with 23 points and 10 assists, and his final shot capped a 10-1 run that changed the night for both programs.
The comeback matters because LSU had cruised through its first three games, winning each by at least 40 points. Those blowouts offered little evidence of how the Tigers would respond when a good team pushed back. Gonzaga did exactly that, building its lead with a 19-5 run and shooting 53.3% after halftime.
Survivor and Advance in November
LSU still found a way through. Abdi Bashir Jr. made five 3-pointers and scored 15 points, with four of those makes coming in the second half. Skyy Clark added 14 points, and Michael Ruzic gave the Tigers a needed presence inside with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Gonzaga had its own reasons to feel the loss. Braden Huff posted 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Davis Fogle finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists. But Fogle missed the second of two free throws with 12.7 seconds left, leaving the door open for Dent’s winner.
One November win does not settle LSU’s ceiling. It does give the Tigers a useful answer to an early question: Can they stay composed when a strong opponent takes control? On Saturday, they did—and Dent supplied a finish LSU fans will remember long after the early-season schedule moves on.
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