After having almost two full weeks off, the LSU Tigers (11-3, 1-0 SEC) started off conference play on the right foot with an 88-79 win over Alabama (10-4, 1-1).
How It Happened:
After a slow start offensively for both teams, the Tigers went on an 8-0 run started off with a three-pointer by Darius Days to take an early 10-6 lead. The Crimson Tide kept it competitive thanks to some poor turnovers from LSU and took back control of the game for a brief moment after a layup from Herbert Jones with 8:58 left in the first half. However, the Tigers got hot late and took a 15-point lead into the half with Days making his third three-pointer of the half with two seconds left.
With a double-digit lead at the break, the Tigers were able to stay around that range for much of the first half despite the offensive flurry that Alabama put up early in the second half. Alabama wound up chipping away at the lead with a 9-2 run with 6:40 left, but LSU responded with a run of their own. Kavell Bigby-Williams literally slammed the door with 1:19 left in the game.
Big Number: 10
The LSU Tigers this year haven’t been a team that puts up three-pointers with consistency, but this may have been their best performance of the season, going 10-of-15 from beyond the arc. This is the second-most threes that they’ve made since draining 11 against Florida State, but the Tigers attempted 26 shots on that particular night in a losing effort.
Player of the Game: Kavell Bigby-Williams
Williams was huge for the Tigers on Tuesday night, especially on the defensive side of the ball, snatching 8 defensive boards and also racked up 14 points including a rim-rocking dunk late to seal the victory.
Next Up: Saturday at Arkansas; Tipoff at 5 pm
-Clint Domingue