LSU worked another overtime shift Wednesday night with a 66-63 win over Arkansas.
The Tigers played their second straight overtime game in front of the 7,411 in attendance.
Arkansas (13-5, 1-4 Southeastern Conference) appeared to win the game at the end of regulation with a three-point buzzer beater by Razorbacks forward Michael Jones. But after reviewing the replay, the referees called the shot a two-pointer with Jones’ foot appearing to be on the line.
LSU coach John Brady said the referees should have called a travel after seeing the play.
“It looked like it was a [three-pointer]. But it looked like in order for it to be a [three-pointer] there was a shuffle of a pivot foot,” Brady said after the game.
Brady acknowledged the officials were only to rule on the shot’s point value but bargained for the travel anyway.
“I just wanted to aggravate them,” Brady quipped. “If you really want to get it right, call the walk and let’s leave.”
                                                                                    
Jones’ controversial basket came over sophomore forward Brandon Bass as he slipped. Bass said he was sure to play tight defense on Johnson’s three-pointer at the end of overtime that would have sent the game into double overtime.
“I kind of knew it was short,” Bass said. “He shot it a little deep and I got up on him. I got in his face.”
Tigers guard Tack Minor assured a Jones’ three-pointer would not win the game for the Razorbacks in overtime, making two free throws with 5.5 seconds remaining.
Freshman forward Glen Davis, who led the Tigers with 26 points and 18 rebounds, also scored six points in overtime to help secure the win.
Bass said the big plays on the boards and in the paint were key to the victory.
“We needed that win,” Bass said. “We’ll go into Kentucky with a lot of confidence.”
Brady said the Tigers defensive play showed their ability to overcome a deficiency on offense.
LSU (9-5, 2-1) had a 36.7 field-goal percentage in the game and hit only 5-of-18 from beyond 3-point range.
“We couldn’t have won a game like this a month ago,” Brady said. “It was good for our team to be able to win the game however it happened.”
The Tigers had a 42-29 rebound advantage, including 17 offensive rebounds which led to second chance points, Brady said. LSU also hit 17-of-20 free throws.
“We defended when we needed to,” Brady said. “We had enough stops and then we went back and rebounded the ball, particularly on the offensive end.”
The Tigers took an 10-9 lead eight minutes into the game but went on a 12-0 run to take a 22-10 lead with 7:01 left in the first half. LSU guards Antonio Hudson and Xavier Whipple sparked the drive with back-to-back 3-pointers.
With 1:24 left in the first half, the Razorbacks took a 26-24 lead with a 14-2 run.
The Tigers scored six straight points, ending the half with a Davis layup that gave LSU a 30-26 lead.
LSU stretched the lead at the beginning of the second half to 34-26 with baskets by Darrel Mitchell and Bass.
The Razorbacks took the lead with a Jones’ 3-pointer, 46-44, with 8:14 left in regulation, and Arkansas held a 54-49 lead with 4:34 left in the second half.
The Tigers went on a 5-0 run to tie the score as Hudson hit a 3-pointer and a free throw to even things up with 1:53 left in regulation.
“It was a sigh of relief when it [the 3-pointer] went in,” Hudson said.
The Tigers regained the lead on a Davis layup, 56-54. And even though LSU could not keep the lead, Hudson said the comeback gave the Tigers momentum in overtime.
“We always keep confidence,” Hudson said. “We just continued to play hard and were able to take the win.”