Frank Booker, dribbling in what appeared to be the final minute of his final home game at South Carolina, fell into LSU's trap. The basketball that he held in the news conference following USC's 83-74 relief of a win was lost out of bounds.
Wednesday was always going to be a unique Senior Night in Colonial Life Arena. The Gamecocks saying goodbye said hello to Columbia less than 10 months earlier. Booker and Wes Myers were graduate transfers, a pair brought here to help fill a new-look roster after a program's first Final Four appearance.
But these guards – one from Florida Atlantic, the other Maine – were never rentals for Frank Martin. USC's leader publicly wished earlier this week he could coach them beyond the conclusion of this season.
Martin kept that stance after 45 minutes of basketball Wednesday. After Myers scored 23 points. After Booker had 25 points – and one costly turnover.
Booker traveled into LSU's bench, giving the Tigers possession with 12 seconds remaining.
The 6-foot-3 Booker likely shrunk even more when LSU took advantage of the mistake with a Tremont Waters game-tying 3 before regulation ended.
South Carolina, for a second straight game, was heading to overtime.
The Gamecocks scored the first nine points of the extra session to improve to 16-14 overall and 7-10 in the SEC. Booker, fittingly, grabbed the game's final rebound and dished to Myers, who made sure the Tigers (16-13, 7-10) couldn't ruin their moment again.
Martin, staying in character, wasn't thrilled with everything from Wednesday's performance. South Carolina allowed too many offensive rebounds (14) and points in the paint (36). The Gamecocks' inability to execute when LSU switched to a 1-3-1 defense nearly cost them the game.
But he stopped critiquing long enough to applaud his seniors.
Myers, showing the form that made him a hero in Gainesville on Jan. 24, was in attack mode all night. He went 11 of 14 from the free throw line, making all four attempts in OT.
Booker, stamping his case as USC's best shooter, went 6 of 7 from 3, including an NBA-range dagger with 10:28 left in regulation that put the Gamecocks up 57-42.
"When you coach kids for a year," Martin said, "by the end of the year, you either can't wait to never see them again – or you wish you got to coach them a little longer.
A relieved Booker spoke afterward with the game ball in his lap. Myers sat to his left.
USC travels to Auburn on Saturday for the regular-season finale.