Lack of energy and Tennessee’s 69.2 percent clip from the field in the second half undid the LSU men’s basketball team’s chances in its final regular season home game, 78-63, on Wednesday night in the PMAC.
The Tigers (21-9, 10-7 Southeastern Conference) entered halftime tied at 33 with the Volunteers (15-14, 7-10 SEC) but couldn’t overcome 37.5 shooting percentage from the field in the second half. Tennessee shot 5-of-8 from three-point range in the second half and outrebounded LSU 35-29 for the game.
Tennessee senior guard Josh Richardson led the Vols with 20 points on 9-of-15 shooting. LSU junior guard Keith Hornsby scored an LSU career-high 25 points to go with four rebounds.
After trailing by as many as 18 points in the second half, the Tigers went on a 15-8 run to cut the lead to 11 with 3:56 left in the game, but the Vols outscored LSU, 8-4, to finish the game.
The Tigers return to action when they travel to Fayetteville, Arkansas and play No. 18 Arkansas Saturday at 1 p.m.