The streak has finally been snapped.
 
It’s been 42 days and 10 Southeastern Conference games since the LSU men’s basketball team has enjoyed the spoils of victory.
 
But Wednesday night, the Tigers (11-16, 3-10) could celebrate after knocking off
Mississippi State, 84-82, as freshman point guard Andre Stringer sunk a layup with 22 seconds remaining to help LSU earn its third conference win of the season.
 
“For the first time in a long time, it’ll be an enjoyable plane ride and bus ride home,” LSU coach Trent Johnson said in a postgame radio interview. “They’ll be able to laugh and smile.”
 
Mississippi State senior guard Riley Benock missed a jumper with one second left for the Bulldogs’ last gasp.
 
“I’m just happy for the kids,” Johnson said.
 
Two clutch free throws by sophomore forward Eddie Ludwig and another by freshman guard Ralston Turner helped secure the win after Stringer’s score.
 
“We shot the ball well,” Johnson said. “More importantly, our kids showed great courage.”
 
LSU let Mississippi State (14-13, 6-7) back in the game after leading, 63-53, with 12:01 remaining after a four-on-one fast break layup by junior forward Storm Warren.
 
A flurry of 3-pointers from the Bulldog junior guard Dee Bost and senior guard Ravern Johnson made the final eight minutes a dramatic affair.
 
The game was knotted at 77 with 1:41 left, but LSU junior forward Garrett Green tipped in a miss by Turner to give the Tigers the lead for good.
 
“This is the third game in which we had more assists than turnovers, and that’s how we have a chance to win games,” Johnson said.
 
The Tigers didn’t allow a repeat of the teams’ first meeting. Mississippi State came behind to beat LSU, 58-57, on Feb. 5 in the PMAC. The Tigers failed to score in the final 3:23 after being ahead, 57-54.
 
The performance of sophomore guard Aaron Dotson in final minutes of the first half gave LSU the lead it needed entering the final 20 minutes to notch the victory.
 
The Bulldogs bullied the Tigers to start the game, jumping out to a 24-11 lead with 11:42 left in the first half. But LSU roared back with the hot hand of the Seattle native.
 
Dotson’s 3-pointer from the left side gave the Tigers their first lead, 31-30, with six minutes in the first half after a 20-6 run.
 
The 6-foot-4-inch guard kept his scoring momentum going with another trey less than two minutes later, which put LSU up, 36-32.
 
Dotson, who had 13 points at intermission and led the team with 16 for the game, didn’t only contribute points. He dished a bounce pass to Warren, who took it to the hoop for a one-handed jam at the 2:03 mark in the first half as LSU entered the halftime locker room up, 45-41.
 
LSU’s offensive explosion Wednesday night was the team’s most points since the season opener against Northwestern State. The Tigers shot 41.8 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from beyond the arc.
 
Five LSU players recorded double-digit scoring nights, including Green, who also snagged eight rebounds.
 
LSU will return to the friendly confines of the PMAC on Saturday afternoon to meet Vanderbilt, who is currently in second place in the SEC East.
 
It will be the first meeting between the two teams this season.
Follow Michael Lambert on Twitter @TDR_Lambert.
 
 
 
 
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Contact Michael Lambert at [email protected]