The LSU men’s basketball team suffered another brutal loss, falling in overtime, 79-75, to a plucky South Alabama squad Wednesday night in the PMAC.
Jaguar guard Freddie Goldstein hit a tying fall-away jumper as time expired in regulation to erase an 12-point LSU halftime deficit, and the Tigers never had a chance in the extra period, making just one field goal in overtime.
Sophomore guards Andre Stringer and Ralston Turner had season-highs in points with 20 and 13, respectively, to pace LSU offensively, but the defensive end ultimately doomed the Tigers.
LSU forced 17 South Alabama turnovers, but allowed the Jaguars to shoot 50.8 percent from the field and grab 42 rebounds to the Tigers’ 31.
“They outworked us tonight, and we need to take ownership for that,” Turner said. “We came out flat down the stretch, but give them credit. They challenged us, and we weren’t quite ready.”
Early on, it appeared the Tigers would cruise to a typically easy early-season victory against a directional school.
LSU grabbed a 10-point edge that it carried into halftime at 41-31 and had a lead as big as 12 in the second half.
The Tigers controlled the action until the 8-minute mark, when they held a 61-50 advantage.
But South Alabama’s deadly mid-range accuracy, spurred by Augustine Rubit and Xavier Roberson’s 16 field goals, and hard-working defense helped the Jaguars claw their way back to a tie game in the waning moments.
Rubit finished with 20 points and Roberson had 19 to lead USA.
Coach Trent Johnson said some players’ attempts to work outside the offensive system and some sloppy passing prevented the Tigers from pulling away.
“You’re giving them life when you go off on your own, trying to make your own shots, forgetting how the offense got you there,” Johnson explained.
The teams traded baskets late, and LSU actually opened up a 69-66 lead in the final minute. But a Jaguar free throw and an ill-advised drive by Tiger guard Anthony Hickey early in the shot clock set the stage for Goldstein’s heroics and the ensuing overtime domination.
LSU is now 3-3 on the season, does not play again until it travels to Houston next Tuesday night and will not have another home game until the Tigers take on Boise State in the PMAC on Dec. 10. 
 
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