LSU Stuns No. 14 Gonzaga 81-80 on Saturday as Donovan Dent Hits Last-Second Three

LSU stunned No. 14 Gonzaga 81-80 on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at Veterans Arena in Spokane, Washington, as Donovan Dent buried a three-pointer with 1.5 seconds left to cap a game-ending 10-1 run. The LSU Gonzaga 81-80 result gave the Tigers their fourth straight win to open the season and handed the Bulldogs their first loss, in a game LSU trailed by 13 points in the second half before storming back in the final minutes.

Key Points

• LSU beat No. 14 Gonzaga 81-80 on Saturday in Spokane, improving to 4-0, while Gonzaga fell to 3-1.
• Donovan Dent hit the winner with 1.5 seconds left: 23 points and 10 assists.
• LSU closed the game on a 10-1 run and erased a 13-point second-half deficit on the road.
• Abdi Bashir scored all 15 of his points on threes, 4-for-4 in the second half.
• Skyy Clark added 14 points; Michael Ruzic had 12 points and 12 rebounds.

What Happened

Dent set the tone early, scoring 16 points in the first half, capped by a banked step-back three that put LSU ahead 39-37 at the break. The Tigers looked in control, but Gonzaga answered after half-time and built a 13-point lead in the second half, turning a tight game into what looked like a comfortable home win for the ranked Bulldogs.

LSU refused to fold. Bashir caught fire from beyond the arc, hitting all four of his second-half three-point attempts as part of a 15-point night scored entirely on threes. The run gathered pace in the closing minutes, and LSU reeled off a game-ending 10-1 burst. The finish belonged to Dent: the UCLA transfer buried a three-pointer with 1.5 seconds remaining, silencing the Spokane crowd and sealing an 81-80 win. Gonzaga had no time to answer.

Background and Context

LSU arrived in Spokane unbeaten but untested. The Tigers had won their first three games by 43, 41 and 40 points against overmatched opponents, but none said much about handling a ranked team on the road. Gonzaga, ranked No. 14 and 3-0, was the first real examination of the season, and the early signs were mixed: a strong first half from Dent, then a second-half slide that left LSU down by 13.

Dent is the engine of this LSU team. The UCLA transfer arrived as the headline addition of the offseason, a guard expected to run the offence and take the big shots, and Saturday proved he can do both. Read our report on Alabama storming back to beat LSU 31-13 in Baton Rouge, the Tigers' most recent big-stage test on the football field.

Gonzaga's side of the story is a team that had everything in its hands and let it slip. The Bulldogs erased a half-time deficit, built a 13-point lead and had the game under control in front of their home crowd, only to be outscored 10-1 down the stretch. A home loss in November does not end a season, but it stings against an unranked opponent.

LSU Gonzaga 81-80: Dent's Winner and a Statement Road Win

The numbers behind the LSU Gonzaga 81-80 finish show why this win matters beyond the scoreboard. Dent's 23 points and 10 assists led all scorers, while Bashir's perfect 4-for-4 second half from three gave LSU the shooting to claw back. Clark's 14 points and Ruzic's 12 points and 12 rebounds filled the gaps, and the Tigers' balance made the comeback possible.

The closing run was the difference. LSU trailed by 13 in the second half and still found a way, outscoring a ranked opponent 10-1 when the game was on the line. Road wins like this are rare early in the season and carry weight with the selection committee in March. For a team that had beaten its first three opponents by 40 points or more, beating Gonzaga in Spokane is a far better measure of where LSU stands.

Reactions and Quotes

The loudest reaction came from the LSU bench as Dent's shot dropped with 1.5 seconds left. A team that had trailed by 13 points in the second half poured onto the floor, and the Spokane crowd, loud all night, fell silent as the final seconds ticked away. It was the kind of finish that defines an early season, and it gave LSU a win it can point to for months.

Dent's performance drew the attention. A 23-point, 10-assist double-double on the road against a ranked opponent, finished with a game-winner, is the sort of night that builds a reputation. Bashir's second-half shooting was just as important: four threes without a miss, all 15 of his points from beyond the arc, at exactly the moment LSU needed scoring.

Why It Matters

Early-season wins against ranked opponents shape a team's whole year. LSU is now 4-0 with a road win over the No. 14 team in the country, and that result will sit on its resume all season. Read our report on Notre Dame routing Boston College 41-7 in South Bend, another top-ranked team that impressed on Saturday. For LSU, the win proves the Tigers can win ugly, on the road, against a good team, and not just by blowing out weaker opponents at home.

It also matters for Dent's standing. The UCLA transfer arrived with big expectations, and a game-winner on the road against Gonzaga is the kind of moment that announces a player to a new fanbase. For Gonzaga, the loss is a warning: giving up a 13-point second-half lead at home will raise questions about how they close games.

What Happens Next

LSU returns home unbeaten at 4-0, with a signature win already in hand before the season has really begun. The Tigers will look to build on the momentum, and the Gonzaga win gives them confidence that their early blowouts were not just a product of a soft schedule. Gonzaga, now 3-1, will look to bounce back quickly and protect its home court in its next outing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score of LSU vs Gonzaga? LSU beat No. 14 Gonzaga 81-80 on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at Veterans Arena in Spokane, Washington. Donovan Dent hit the winning three-pointer with 1.5 seconds left.

How did Donovan Dent play? Dent scored a game-high 23 points with 10 assists, including 16 in the first half, and his banked step-back three put LSU up 39-37 at half-time.

How did LSU come back from 13 points down? LSU closed on a 10-1 run, with Abdi Bashir hitting all four of his second-half threes for all 15 of his points.

What are the records now? LSU improved to 4-0, having won its first three games by 43, 41 and 40 points. Gonzaga fell to 3-1 with its first loss of the season.

Who else starred for LSU? Skyy Clark scored 14, Michael Ruzic had 12 points and 12 rebounds, and Bashir added 15, all on threes.