The momentum wasn’t enough.
After taking a 33-28 lead against Alabama into halftime on Saturday, LSU couldn’t hold on, and fell 81-66 to the Crimson Tide.
“For the first 34, 35 minutes of the game they were there,” coach Johnny Jones said. “Unfortunately for us, they hit a four or five minute stretch that we just weren’t able to recover from.”
LSU (9-7, 1-4 Southeastern Conference) and Alabama (10-6, 3-1 SEC) were tied at 56 with 4:55 remaining in the second half, before the Tide went on an 11-0 run to go ahead 67-56. Alabama guard Riley Norris drained back-to-back threes, followed by a dunk from forward Donta Hall, and another three from former Tiger Corban Collins.
For the fifth time in six games, LSU allowed its opponent to score 50 points in a half, giving up 53 in the second half to Alabama. It was Alabama’s first 50-point half of the season, one in which they only committed one turnover.
“They (Alabama) only shot 20-something percent from the field (in the first half), but they did a good job in the second half of attacking the zone,” Jones said.
Alabama finished the game shooting 40 percent (25-of-63) from the field and 36 percent (10-of-28) from three. Collins led the way with 24 points and and a 7-of-11 shooting performance from beyond the arc.
Norris followed with 20 points and a 6-of-12 performance from the field.
Junior forward Duop Reath had 12 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks for LSU, and shot 6-of-14 from the field. Freshman point guard Skylar Mays finished with 12 points, and both junior forward Aaron Epps and sophomore guard Antonio Blakeney added on 11.
LSU turned the ball over 18 times which allowed for 25 points, a problem that team hopes to fix going forward.
“We were just loose with the ball,” junior guard Jalyn Patterson said. “We just have to be better at taking care of the ball at the guard position.”
In the final minute of the game, Blakeney went down near the LSU bench in what appeared to be in relation to his ankle.
“I saw him in the training room so I’m not sure how bad it is,” coach Jones said. “I haven’t had the chance to speak with the trainers or doctors.”
LSU now hits the road to take on the Auburn Tigers on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Auburn is currently 11-6 and 1-3 against Southeastern Conference opponents.
