The LSU men’s basketball team made the last minutes of the game against Ole Miss count the most.
The Tigers (14-5, 6-0) defeated the Rebels (13-6, 3-3) 79-73 Saturday in Oxford, Miss., marking only the second game Ole Miss has lost at home this season.
“Our team made every play down the stretch,” said LSU coach John Brady. “We did some really nice things as a team. Every time they tried to break us, we just came back and made one and then we went to the free-throw line. I was proud of my team for executing like they did and making plays like they did.”
The Rebels tied the game at 71 with 2:13 left on a 3-point basket by Londrick Nolen. LSU answered with a 3-pointer by Darrel Mitchell. The Rebels added two free throws to cut the lead to one point, but sophomore forward Glen Davis drew a foul on a layup, putting the Tigers ahead four points to win the game.
“I thought once we got the 4-point lead, we’d just go back to the zone,” Brady said. “Even though they hit a couple, they’re not a 3-point-shooting team. They took time off the clock, and then they shot and missed, and we were able to come up with the rebound. Then we spread the floor – they let us play with the ball before they fouled us.”
Two Tigers had record games. Darrel Mitchell finished with a season-high 28 points with 18 coming in the second half. Tasmin Mitchell added a career-high 20. Davis put up 19 points despite a bang to the knee near halftime and four fouls.
The Tigers were beat on the boards for only the third time this season, 25-32. LSU shot 87 percent from the free-throw line and 50 percent from behind the arc.
Ole Miss shot 53 percent from the field, and LSU shot 47 percent. The Rebels made 43 percent of their 3-point shots.
LSU has now won 12 games in a row in the Southeastern Conference. Their last loss in the SEC was Feb. 12, 2005 against Arkansas in Fayetteville.
“It’s great to win 12 straight SEC games,” Brady said. “We’ve won 11 straight at home. Those are good things to build on. It means we’re playing some quality basketball and playing at a high level.”
 
Contact Krysten Oliphant at koliphant@lsureveille.com