Coming off a tough loss versus the top-ranked Auburn Tigers earlier in the week, the LSU Tigers men’s basketball team welcomed the Longhorns into the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Saturday. Texas took over in the second half and dominated the Bayou Bengals on their home floor 89-58, dropping LSU’s record to 12-9 and 1-7 in SEC Conference play.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Longhorns took the early 10-4 lead as senior forward Kadin Shedrick scored half of his team’s points through the first four minutes.
Both of LSU’s made shots were highlight-type plays with Cam Carter hitting a contested shot from the baseline while being fouled but didn’t make the free throw after. The other could be featured in this week’s Sports Center Top 10. Dji Bailey got the basketball at the top of the key and made the nearest defender touch the floor before completing the poster dunk on one of Texas’ players.
After a TV timeout, backup guard Jordan Sears checked into the game and got to work scoring. On his first offensive possession, Sears got the ball from Carter, knocked down a midrange jumper, and then scored the Tigers’ 10th point with a similar shot.
Freshman Vyctorius Miller also had the opportunity for an and-one-after knocking down a left-wing three where he was fouled on the way up. Miller scored again two possessions later but the LSU still found themselves down 21-15 with 9:05 remaining in the first half. During that span, Longhorn guard Tre Johnson scored seven points, including making a three to put his team up eight.
Following a timeout, the Tigers cut it to within three with an 8-0 run. Sears and Robert Miller III knocked down a couple of shots from the midrange and the paint. Miller’s second make was a put-back layup off his miss to make it a 26-23 game. Miller scored again at the 53-second mark while Shedrick made a three and Jason Kent with four minutes to play.
Even with the scoring drought to end the half for Texas, LSU was down 31-25 heading into the locker room.
The Longhorns had to wait another two and a half minutes after the start of the second half before they saw their next made field goal. That was part of an 8-2 run by Texas to extend their lead.
Through the first half, LSU turned the ball over six times, an improvement of how they’ve done in that statistical category recently. Matt McMahon’s group reverted to their old way through the first few minutes of the second half as they gave the ball away four times, including two coming on back-to-back possessions.
Texas continued to separate themselves for the next few minutes as they went on a 16-2 run to jump out to a 52-33 lead. The only shot made by LSU during those runs was a layup from Corey Chest and a jumper by Tre’Dez Green.
The Tigers continued to give up shots on defense, giving up 37 points in the final 12 minutes of play. LSU on the other hand scored 25 points. The Longhorns put the final nails in the coffin by lighting up the scoreboard from three-point range, knocking down six shots from that range. Sears was the only one who scored from behind the arc in that time.
After the final buzzer, Texas came out victorious, defeating LSU 89-58 on Saturday. That loss dropped the Tigers’ record to 12-9 and 1-7 in the SEC.
BIG NUMBER: 58
The Texas Longhorn took over in the second half in the PMAC, outscoring LSU 58-33 in the final 20 minutes. Four players scored at least 10 points for Texas with Tre Johnson and Tramon Mark each putting up 18. The only player to reach that threshold for the Tigers was Jordan Sears off the bench with 13.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Kadin Shedrick
The senior big man for Texas wasn’t their leading scorer on Saturday but finished the game with a double-double. Shedrick scored 16 points on 6-11 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds. He also recorded three steals and an assist as the Longhorns took down LSU 89-58, dropping the Tigers’ record to 12-9 and 1-7 in the conference.
UP NEXT: The LSU Tigers men’s basketball team will pack their bags and head to Athens, Georgia to take on the Bulldogs. Tipoff in Stegeman Coliseum is set for 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 5th and the action can be heard on ESPN 103.7 Lafayette 104.1 Lake Charles.