Saturday afternoon gave the LSU Tigers (6-3) an important lesson: never overlook teams in the non-conference schedule. Stephen F. Austin (10-1) taught the Tigers that exact lesson inside the PMAC, after a missed shot at the buzzer gave the Lumberjacks an 83-82 victory.
It looked to be all Lumberjacks in the early goings as they got out to an early five point lead, but LSU was able to take control of the ballgame at the halfway mark of the first half. The Tigers were able to make it a nine-point lead with 5:59 left in the first, but Stephen F. Austin was able to take a 48-47 lead into the break off of a 12-5 run late.
The Tigers came out of the gates strong to start the second half, making it a seven-point ballgame with 14:47 left. However, the Lumberjacks fired back and went back and for much of the second half and managed to get it to a one-point ballgame with four seconds left. Aaron Epps had a big opportunity to give LSU the win, but missed a layup as time expired to give Stephen F. Austin the win.
LSU will host Sam Houston State (6-5) on Tuesday with tipoff set for 7 pm.
-Clint Domingue