LSU Coach Wade’s Tigers Rally Past No. 13 Gonzaga, Raising Early Expectations
A comeback in Spokane
LSU overcame a deficit of as many as 13 points to beat Gonzaga 81-80 on the road. The Tigers closed the game with a 24-12 stretch over the final seven minutes and 22 seconds.
Gonzaga had won seven straight games at Spokane Arena before the matchup. Donovan Dent scored 23 points and recorded 10 assists, and made the game-winning shot, according to the article’s account.
Bashir and Ruzic contribute
Abdi Bashir Jr., a former Kansas State senior guard, scored 15 points off the bench while making five of eight three-point attempts. He was one of the roster’s rare traditional signings and was averaging four three-pointers per game early in the season.
Croatian center Michael Ruzic grabbed 12 rebounds, including seven on offense, and made his only three-point attempt. His work on the glass helped set up one of Bashir’s baskets during the comeback.
Expectations shift for LSU
LSU entered the season picked 14th in the SEC media poll, ahead of only South Carolina and Mississippi State. The win over Gonzaga offers an early sign that the Tigers could exceed those expectations.
Wade had described his approach as unconventional in September, when LSU had four players on its roster and several eligibility situations remained unresolved. He said it might not work and invited criticism if it failed.
Wade’s return to LSU
LSU fired Wade in 2022 over a recruiting scandal. Since then, the program has had one winning record: a 17-16 finish in 2023-24, with no NCAA Tournament appearances.
After one offseason back with the program, Wade’s team is 4-0 through four games of the 2026-27 season. Its comeback at Gonzaga has put LSU back in the early conversation about the SEC.
Key points
- LSU beat No. 13 Gonzaga 81-80 on the road to move to 4-0.
- The Tigers erased a 13-point second-half deficit with a late 24-12 run.
- Abdi Bashir Jr. scored 15 points, and Michael Ruzic collected 12 rebounds.
- LSU was picked 14th in the SEC preseason poll.