LSU Tigers (7-5, 0-0 Southeastern Conference) vs. Vanderbilt Commodores (8-4, 0-0 Southeastern Conference)

When/Where: 8:00 p.m. CT at Memorial Gymnasium | Nashville, Tennessee

Television: ESPN2

TV Talent:  Mark Jones and Kara Lawson

Radio: WDGL-FM 98.1 (Baton Rouge)

FINAL – LSU 90, Vanderbilt 82: Led by a 36-point, 14-rebound effort from freshman  forward Ben Simmons, the Tiger came away with a 90-82 victory at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville. It was the first time LSU has won a conference opener since 2012 and is the most notable win on LSU’s schedule to date. This was also the first road win of the season for the Tigers, going 0-for-4 in games away from the PMAC. Senior guard Keith Hornsby had 23 points, and sophomore forward Craig Victor had 11 points to go with 6 rebounds. 

2nd half: 

15:23 – LSU 48, Vanderbilt 45: Ben Simmons continues to light up the scoreboard for the Tigers, scoring seven of the Tigers’ 14 points thus far in the half. He’s up to 25 points on the night on 8-of-10 shooting to match four rebounds. Simmons, though, does have two fouls. Craig Victor is sitting with three fouls. 

11:52 – LSU 57, Vanderbilt 51: After guard Wade Baldwin, who leads the Commodores with 14 points, regained the lead for Vanderbilt with a three-pointer, the Tigers surged to a 7-0 run before a media timeout. Senior guard Keith Hornsby joins Simmons in double figures with 15 points on a 3-for-4 clip from three-point territory. Simmons has 27 points. 

7:25 – LSU 66, Vanderbilt 59: Led by Simmons’ aggressiveness and free throwing shooting, LSU seems to have an answer for every Vanderbilt basket. The Tigers currently have their largest lead, shooting 52 percent this half. 

3:09 – LSU 75, Vanderbilt 68: Simmons came up hobbled, but it appears to be just a cramp. He will likely return to action. Meanwhile, LSU has maintained breathing room as Hornsby now has 20 points, while Simmons has 34 points and 11 rebounds. 

1st half: 

15:50 – Vanderbilt 8, LSU 5: The Tigers scored the first five points of the game, but are zero for their last four shots from the field, allowing Vanderbilt to go on an 8-0 run. Sophomore guard Tim Quarterman collected a offensive rebound and a layup, and senior guard Keith Hornsby drilled a three-pointer from the wing. Commodore forward Jeff Roberson leads Vanderbilt with five points. 

11:44 – Vanderbilt 12, LSU 11: After allowing Vanderbilt to go on a 10-0 run, LSU scored six straight points to regain the lead, capped off by freshman forward Ben Simmons’ layup. Vanderbilt center Damian Jones responded with a long jumper off the glass to give the Commodores the lead back. 

7:39 – Vanderbilt 18, LSU 16: LSU held Vandy scoreless for more than three minutes, but Samir Sehic hit a three-pointer to end the drought and give the Commodores the lead back. From there, it has been back and forth as Jones responded to a Simmons tip-in with a three-point play. 

3:43 – LSU 23, Vanderbilt 22: Simmons has taken over on the glass and the offensive end for LSU, scoring five straight points to give the Tigers a one-point lead. He leads all scorers with 12 points (5-for-7) to match three rebounds. Sophomore forward Craig Victor and Quarterman each have two fouls. Vandy is shooting 6-of-20 from the field but is perfect from the foul line. 

HALF – Vanderbilt 35, LSU 34: It has been all Ben Simmons for LSU on the offensive end as he leads all scorers with 18 points on 5-of-7 shooting. He is also 8-of-10 from the free throw line. But the difference so far for Vanderbilt has been free throw shooting, hitting all 13 of its shots from the charity stripe. The Commodores have also hit four three-pointers compared to just two for LSU. The Tigers lead almost every other major category, including rebounds and points in the paint. 

#LSU starting lineup vs. Vandy: G Quarterman G Blakeney G Hornsby F Simmons F Victor
— James Bewers (@JamesBewers_TDR) January 3, 2016

Vandy starters vs. #LSU: G Baldwin IV G Fisher-Davis G LaChance F Roberson C Jones
— James Bewers (@JamesBewers_TDR) January 3, 2016