How sweet it is.
For the first time since the 2005-06 season, the LSU Tigers are headed to the Sweet Sixteen after a last-second shot by Tremont Waters helping the Tigers get past Maryland by the score of 69-67.
How It Happened:
LSU had control of the ballgame for much of the first half, but couldn’t really establish any kind of foothold. That all changed when the Tigers went on a 10-0 run to make it a 15-point ballgame with 5:24 left in the first half. The Terrapins responded late and brought the lead down to nine points after a pair of back-to-back threes from Aaron Wiggins to end the first half.
The second half saw LSU make it a 15-point ballgame at the first media timeout. However, Maryland responded with a run of their own and managed to take a 57-55 lead with 5:52 left. From that point on, it was a tug of war between the two teams. Skylar Mays gave the Tigers the lead with 40 seconds left after a corner three but was countered with a three-pointer by Jalen Smith. After a timeout, interim head coach Tony Benford drew up one final play and it paid off with Tremont Waters laying it up and in with 1.6 seconds left to give LSU the win.
Big Number: 10
There’s a bit of duality with the number ten when it comes to LSU. Their biggest run of the afternoon was a 10-0 run, but the more important number was getting ten points off of 12 turnovers.
Player of the Game: Tremont Waters
Waters was an integral part in the Tigers offense on Saturday; racking up 12 points, two boards, and five assists. Of course, he had the most important two points in the ballgame in the final moments and that’s a big reason why he has received the honor.
Next Up: TBD
-Clint Domingue