Donovan Dent knocked down a go-ahead 3-pointer with one second remaining Saturday afternoon, lifting LSU to a thrilling 81-80 victory over No. 14 Gonzaga at Numerica Veterans Arena and giving coach Will Wade his first signature win since returning to Baton Rouge.
Dent finished with 23 points and 10 assists as LSU (4-0) overcame a 13-point second-half deficit to remain undefeated. The victory marked the Tigers' first win over a nationally ranked opponent this season and their fourth consecutive victory to open the 2026-27 campaign.
Trailing 80-78 in the closing seconds, LSU turned to its veteran point guard, who delivered the biggest shot of the young season. Gonzaga's Davis Fogle missed a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer, sealing the Tigers' dramatic comeback.
Abdi Bashir Jr. provided a significant spark off the bench, finishing with 15 points while connecting on five 3-pointers. Michael Ruzic added 12 rebounds as LSU held a 45-43 advantage on the glass.
Braden Huff led Gonzaga (2-1) with 18 points.
The victory didn't come easily for Wade's Tigers, who entered Saturday having defeated their first three opponents by at least 40 points.
LSU carried a 39-37 lead into halftime before Gonzaga seized control midway through the second half.
The Bulldogs used a 12-2 run to build a 59-51 advantage before extending their lead to 68-55 with 7:41 remaining. LSU struggled offensively during that stretch, going nearly four minutes without a field goal as Gonzaga appeared poised to pull away.
However, the Tigers refused to fold.
Trailing 75-68 with 4:22 remaining, LSU began chipping away at the deficit behind timely perimeter shooting, second-chance opportunities and free throws.
Bashir knocked down a crucial 3-pointer as the Tigers eventually put together a 7-0 run to pull within 79-78 with 1:12 remaining.
After Gonzaga pushed its advantage to 80-78, Dent delivered the decisive shot to complete the comeback.
LSU's perimeter shooting played a significant role in the victory.
The Tigers connected on 12 of 27 attempts from beyond the arc (44.4%), while Gonzaga made just 5 of 18 (27.8%). That advantage helped LSU overcome its struggles with turnovers, as the Tigers committed 14 compared with seven by the Bulldogs.
Defensively, LSU recorded nine blocked shots and held its own against Gonzaga's physical frontcourt.
The victory represented a major early-season statement for Wade and his revamped roster, which had dominated its first three opponents but had yet to face a team of Gonzaga's caliber.
Saturday's performance showed the Tigers could overcome adversity, compete physically against nationally ranked competition and execute in critical late-game situations.
LSU returns home Wednesday, Nov. 18, to face UL Monroe at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, looking to extend its unbeaten start to five games.
