Behind 17 turnovers, LSU dropped its ninth straight game of the season to Texas A&M on Saturday.
LSU’s current losing streak is the longest since 2011, when the Tigers lost 10 straight games in conference play.
Nearly six minutes into the first half, LSU took a 11-4 lead over A&M. It didn’t last long, as A&M went on a 21-8 to go ahead 25-19.
“I thought we got off to a good start tonight, but unfortunately we did not do what was needed to sustain that effort,” coach Johnny Jones said. “We got away from doing some of things that I think allowed us to get that lead. When we tried to be creative after we built up a lead, we turned the ball over, and they got easy scoring opportunities.”
LSU has finished every game since its season opener against Wofford with double figures in turnovers.
The Tigers entered halftime trailing the Aggies 34-25 after shooting 11-of-30 from the field and scoring only eight points in the final 11:38 of the half. They finished shooting 46 percent (26-of-57) from the field and 44 percent (8-of-18) from three.
Junior forward Duop Reath and sophomore guard Brandon Sampson led the charge for the Tigers. Reath earned his fifth double-double of the season with 16 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. Sampson finished with 21 points and a perfect 9-of-9 performance from the line.
Sampson implied his aggressive approach on offense was intentional.
“I just made it a little bigger goal for myself to try to get to the line,” Sampson said. “I just tried not to be complacent and not take as many jump shots.”
A&M finished the game shooting 46 percent (29-of-63) from the field and with five players scoring in double figures. Sophomore guard Admon Gilder led the Aggies with 20 points, Robert Williams had 18 points, JC Hampton had 15 points, DJ Hogg had 11 points and Tyler Davis finished with 10 points.
“I just felt like no one could guard me height-wise, length-wise or with jumping ability,” Williams said.
LSU now heads to Lexington, Kentucky on Tuesday to take on the Kentucky Wildcats at 6 p.m. in Rupp Arena.
“This is what we signed up for,” Jones said. “It should bring it out of you to want to compete against some of the best players in the country at the highest level at one of the greatest stages in the country in Rupp Arena.”
