In all of his years of coaching and playing basketball, LSU coach Johnny Jones has never experienced anything like this.
On the verge of making history for all of the wrong reasons Tuesday night, LSU did just that.
The Tigers extended their losing streak to 14 games, falling 98-75 to Auburn. LSU’s (9-18, 1-14 Southeastern Conference) worst loss to Auburn in 18 seasons. The losing skid now ties the program record that dates back to 1965-66 and 1966-67.
“It’s certainly been different and difficult,” Jones said. “It’s not anything that I’ve been through. It’s nothing that you try to prepare for. I’ve been blessed that I’ve been built for what we’re going through. I’ve got try and guide a group of men through this. It’s been extremely tough and difficult in doing that as well. You want to try and keep their spirits up.”
LSU went into halftime trailing Auburn 45-42 and sophomore guard Antonio Blakeney, the only player in double figures scoring for both teams at the half, leading the way with 10 points.
As the second half began, Blakeney knocked down a three right out of the half to tie the game at 45.
That didn’t last long.
Auburn jumped out to a 57-47 lead with 15:34 left in the game, and held LSU to a 2-of-8 shooting performance in the first five minutes of the second half.
A 60 percent (18-of-30) shooting effort in the second half for Auburn allowed them to stay ahead.
“Teams get in a rhythm,” Jones said. “What you want, is to not allow them to get comfortable. You want to make sure that they’re uncomfortable on the offensive end of the floor, and we weren’t able to do that.”
Auburn finished with five players scoring in double figures. Graduate transfer Ronnie Johnson came off the bench and led Auburn in scoring with 17 points.
Blakeney finished the game with 29 points, 19 of those coming in the second half, and six rebounds in 38 minutes of play. Junior forward Duop Reath added nine points and five rebounds before fouling out of the game in the final minutes.
LSU shot 41 percent (24-of-59) from the field and 36 percent (8-of-22) from three.
Blakeney was asked what emotions are the team feeling after enduring through such a long losing streak: sadness, frustration, or embarrassment.
“All three,” Blakeney said. “All of that.”
The Tigers now head to Athens, Georgia on Saturday to face the Georgia Bulldogs at 5 p.m. in Stegeman Coliseum.
