The LSU Tigers (12-9, 3-6 SEC) headed into Knoxville with eight players and fell apart in the second half. That led to an 84-61 loss on Wednesday night to Tennessee (16-5, 6-3 SEC).
LSU kept it close early on in the first half, even holding a two-point lead in the opening moments. However, the Volunteers made it a double-digit ballgame and despite some solid efforts by the Tigers late, it ended up an 11-point deficit for LSU at the break.
Duop Reath helped LSU get back into the ballgame in the second half, getting the score down to six points with 12:15 left in regulation. However, Reath’s 10 points in the second half wasn’t enough to get the Tigers back into the ballgame as Tennessee began to pull away late. The final nail was put in when LaMonte Turner hit a jumper with 3:25 left in regulation to make it 77-57.
LSU will return to the PMAC on Saturday when they take on the Arkansas Razorbacks (15-7, 11-1 SEC) with tipoff set for 2:30 pm.
-Clint Domingue