The LSU Tigers and SMU Mustangs, both coming into the game with eight wins in the early start, battled at the Comercia Center in the Compete 4 Cause Classic. SMU led by as much as 12, but the Tigers made it interesting late before the Mustangs held on to a 74-64 victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
LSU jumped out to a quick lead as SMU was held scoreless for the opening three minutes, but the contest was tied at the first media timeout with 15:29 remaining in the first half after a layup from Boopie Miller tied it at 5-5. The Mustangs quickly went on a 7-0 run to jump ahead 12-5, but LSU answered with a 12-1 run to lead 17-13 at the eight-minute media timeout as the Tigers settled in in Frisco.
The rest of the first half stayed incredibly close as Jordan Sears led the Tigers with 12 points in the first half and Dji Bailey was close behind with nine.
LSU held a 33-27 lead at the break after outscoring the Mustangs 5-2 over the final two minutes as SMU missed back-to-back three-pointers trying to cut into the lead.
Early in the second half, SMU came out firing in this battle of eight-win teams. With 17:28 remaining in the game, it was tied at 35-35 after an 8-2 run by the Mustangs to tie the matchup. Miller and Samet Yigitoglu each had seven to lead SMU.
The Mustangs went on a 10-0 run in a matter of 90 or so seconds, forcing Matt McMahon to take a timeout trailing by 8 with 12:33 to go.
At the under-eight media timeout, LSU tried to cut into the lead at 57-49 as Cam Carter hit a pair of free throws before a foul on the other end led to the timeout. A three-pointer from Carter on the next possession made it a six-point game down the stretch, but Chuck Harris was quick to answer with a three of his own to put SMU back ahead by nine with 6:30 remaining.
LSU cut it down to five points at the final media timeout with 3:35 to go. Sears led with 21 and Bailey followed with 13 while Carter had nine points and six assists for the Tigers.
SMU was able to convert their free throws down the back stretch as Andy Enfield’s squad improved to 9-2 on the season with a 74-64 win over LSU.
BIG NUMBER: 42-26
SMU outscored LSU in the paint 42-26, dominating the inside game as SMU improved to 9-2 on the season.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Matt Cross
The senior was efficient, scoring 16 points and grabbing 16 rebounds in the win for the Mustangs.
UP NEXT: LSU will welcome Stetson to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Tuesday night. Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. on ESPN 103.7 Lafayette and 104.1 Lake Charles.