LSU has started conference play with wins against Vanderbilt and No. 9 Kentucky. Before the season, the media selected the Wildcats and Commodores to finish first and second in the conference this season.
Now, the Tigers turn their attention to another recent power in the SEC, Florida.
It hasn’t been a memorable start to SEC play for the Gators. They opened with a victory against Georgia in Gainesville but faltered on the road against Tennessee. The Gators look to rebound on Saturday.
LSU Tigers (9-5, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) vs. Florida Gators (9-5, 1-1 SEC)
When/Where: 12:30 p.m. at Stephen C. O’Connell Center | Gainesville, Florida
Television: CBS (Spero Dedes, play by play, and Doug Gottlieb, analyst)
Radio: LSU Sports Radio Network
Second Half:
FINAL – LSU falls to Florida, 68-62. The Tigers never led. They fall to 2-1 in the SEC.
14.4 – Florida 67, LSU 62: Ben Simmons has fouled out.
17.2 – Florida 67, LSU 62: LSU turns the ball over again after the Gators sink two free throws. Florida has the ball and the lead.
40.2 – Florida 65, LSU 62: Ben Simmons turns the ball over for the 7th time in the game, all in the second half. He’s also scored LSU’s last 12 points. Tigers on the ropes with time dwindling.
2:26 – Florida 61, LSU 59: Craig Victor picks up his 5th personal foul and is out for the game. Epps replaces him.
4:41 – Florida 59, LSU 52: Florida started the game 0-12 from the 3-point line but has made three of its last four attempts from deep.
8:29 – Florida 51, LSU 47: Craig Victor picks up his fourth personal foul. Elbert Robinson subs in for him.
9:39 – Florida 50, LSU 45: Tigers call timeout.
11:14 – Florida 47, LSU 45: Ben Simmons picks up his third foul of the game. He joins Quarterman with three.
11:33 – Florida 47, LSU 45: Tigers scored six straight points, forcing a Gators timeout. LSU still has not led in the game.
15:57 – Florida 43, LSU 37: Gators knock down their first 3-pointer of the game. Tim Quarterman picks up his third personal foul. LSU still searching for answers on the offensive end.
17:36 – Florida 36, LSU 35: Gators call a timeout after the Tigers close the gap to one. LSU is threatening to take its first lead of the game.
First Half:
HALF – Florida 34, LSU 31: Gators led for over 19 minutes in the first half, but the Tigers fought back to close the deficit to 3.
1:51 – Florida 34, LSU 27: The Tigers switch out of the 2-3 zone to man-to-man. They get a stop but immediately turn it over.
3:06 – Florida 33, LSU 26: Florida’s last six baskets have been dunks or layups. Gators have 22 of their 33 points in the paint.
5:08 – Florida 29, LSU 24: Ben Simmons has scored or assisted on each of the Tigers’ last twelve points.
6:56 – Florida 25, LSU 17: Official Timeout. Josh Gray joins Hornsby and Quarterman as guards with two fouls. Florida has 7 offensive rebounds on 13 missed shots.
9:36 – Florida 25, LSU 15: LSU hasn’t made a basket in over 4 minutes.
11:12 – Florida 19, LSU 13: Gators out-rebounding the Tigers, 13-7, early. LSU shooting 36 percent from the field.
12:11 – Florida 17, LSU 12: Sampson and Patterson sub in for Hornsby and Blakeney. Simmons and Victor also sub out for Epps and Malone before official timeout at 12 minute mark.
14:24 – Florida 13, LSU 8: Tigers switch to a 2-3 zone defensively.
15:38 – Florida 11, LSU 6: Florida running a 2-2-1 full-court press, while shots aren’t falling for the Tigers early.
18:15 – Florida 5, LSU 0: Quarterman picks up two fouls in the first 1:45 of the game. Gray subs in for him.
Pregame:
– LSU wearing purple while Florida is in the home whites.
Starting Lineups:
LSU: (G) Hornsby, (G) Blakeney, (G) Quarterman, (F) Simmons, (F) Victor
Florida: (G) Allen, (G) Chiozza, (F) Finney-Smith, (F) Leon, (C) Egbunu
#LSU freshman phenom Ben Simmons going through pregame warmups. #Gators pic.twitter.com/ajYo7Qligt
— Luis Torres (@LFTorresIII) January 9, 2016
