Former LSU stars filled the PMAC on Saturday for LSU’s game against Kentucky.
But all the star power in the stands could not stop Kentucky (13-10, 7-3) senior forward Joe Crawford from putting the Tigers away.
Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O’Neal, Chicago Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas, LSU legend Collis Temple Jr. and former LSU coach Dale Brown watched as Crawford went wild in the second half en route to Kentucky’s 67-63 victory against LSU (9-15, 2-8).
“[O’Neal] was in the house – and coach Dale Brown – and it was real good to see them again,” said junior guard Garrett Temple. “[O’Neal] got the crowd involved a little bit, and I gave him a little wink after I made my free throws.”
Temple made his only two free throws of the game with 3:20 remaining to cut the Wildcats’ lead to 59-57, but Crawford responded by banking a turn-around, fade-away jump shot off the backboard for two points.
“There’s really nothing else you can do about that,” Temple said. “[Junior guard] Terry Martin, a [6-foot-6-inch] guy, got a hand up, and [Crawford] just hit a tough shot.”
Crawford scored 16 of his team-high 21 points in the second half.
“He hit some unbelievable shots: the shot in front of the bench – the fall away – and the one of the glass inside,” said LSU coach Butch Pierre. “That’s what it takes on the road in the Southeastern Conference.”
The fade away in front of the bench put the Wildcats ahead 57-53 with 5:24 remaining. The shot resulted in Crawford sliding across the floor into the Kentucky bench fading away enough to shoot over the outstretched arm of 6-foot-11-inch LSU junior center Chris Johnson.
While Crawford’s production led Kentucky to the win, LSU freshman forward Anthony Randolph led all scorers and rebounders with 24 points and 14 boards.
“[Randolph] did a good job on the boards,” Pierre said. “He finished some balls in traffic, and in transition, he ran the floor. He did a real good job, but I wish he would’ve been able to score a little bit more in the post because we got him the ball down there.”
Despite Randolph’s efforts, Kentucky’s scoring distribution was enough for the Wildcats to win.
Senior guard Ramel Bradley scored 16 points shooting 2-for-3 from 3-point range, and freshman forward Patrick Patterson added 14 points, including completing two first-half alley-oops.
Martin was the only other player in double-figures, scoring 12 points, on 2-for-4 long-range shooting. The Wildcats held LSU junior guard Marcus Thornton, the SEC’s leading scorer, to nine points – including only two points in the second half.
Down 61-60 with 44 seconds remaining, Thornton had a chance to put the rough game behind him with a 3-point shot, but the Baton Rouge native’s off-balanced attempt came up short.
After two free throws by Kentucky sophomore guard Derrick Jasper put the Wildcats ahead 63-60, Johnson missed an open 3-point attempt.
“That was a set play,” Temple said. “The [3-pointer] Chris took in front of Patterson – we were down by three and Chris is a great 3-point shooter. It just wasn’t his night tonight, but that wasn’t ill-advised at all. That was a good shot.”
Four free throws by Bradley sealed the game after Johnson’s miss, and the Tigers lost a close home game against an SEC opponent for the second-consecutive Saturday.
“We’re fighting hard, and we’ve just got to keep fighting,” Martin said. “We’re not getting down on ourselves.”
The Tigers have a quick break before going on the road Wednesday to face Arkansas.
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