The bad day for LSU hoops got even worse. Before they tipped off on Thursday night in the PMAC, it was announced that they had dismissed Craig Victor, which was followed by another poor defensive performance against Vanderbilt to start SEC play.
The game began with a back and forth exchange, but the Commodores began to take the lead and sustained this lead with 11:42 left in the first half. Vanderbilt’s lead got as high as 16 points until LSU fired back with a 15-4 run in the final 4:38 to make it a three point deficit heading into the locker room.
When a team typically goes on a big run to end the first half, that momentum carries over into the start of the second half. This was not the case as the Commodores came back and made it double digits once again with 15:48 remaining in regulation. As it came down to the final minutes, the Tigers were able to get within four. However, some questionable foul calls were made in the final minute that allowed Vandy to come away with the win.
The Tigers (8-4, 0-1 SEC) will travel over to Columbia next Wednesday to take on Missouri (5-7) with tipoff set for 8 pm.
By the Numbers:
17: Number of made three pointers that LSU made in a losing effort. This tied the record for most made threes in a game set back in 2003 against Tennessee. Both teams combined for 33 made threes, which is the SEC record for a game.
30: Number of points that the Commodores had off of turnovers. The Tigers committed 15 turnovers on the night with six of them coming from Duop Reath.
34: Number of points off the Tiger bench. Wayde Sims accounted for 14 of those with four three pointers on the night.
-Clint Domingue