Another game. Another unlikely hero. For the LSU basketball team, the story is all too familiar.
Auburn reserve Nathan Watson played the role of Florida’s Brett Nelson, who scorched the Tigers with seven 3-pointers after shooting 25 pecent from behind the line before the Gators Jan. 28, 70-53 victory. However, there was one major difference.
Watson only hit one 3-pointer, but it was the game-winning shot, as Auburn defeated LSU, 56-54 Saturday, at Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum in Auburn, Ala.
Watson, who had not hit a shot all day after coming off the bench, received a pass from teammate Marquis Daniels on the left wing and converted a 3-point attempt over the outstretched arms of 6-foot-7 Tiger forward Ronald Dupree with 4.1 seconds remaining.
A 3-pointer at the buzzer by sophomore Antonio Hudson fell short as the Tigers’ struggles in the Southeastern Conference continued. It was their sixth loss in seven SEC games.
LSU took its first lead of the day with 3:07 remaining, when forward Jaime Lloreda put in a layup to make the score 54-53.
From there on out, neither team scored until Watson’s game-winner, and both teams squandered numerous chances to place themselves in a more comfortable position by broadening the point span.
Lloreda missed a jumper with 2:12 remaining.
After a steal by Antonio Hudson, the sophomore guard was charged with a player-control foul.
Auburn’s Brandon Robinson then missed two free throws, but the Tigers were unable to get a shot off in the next possession and were whistled for a shot-clock violation.
Then Daniels of Auburn missed a jumper, and it seemed as though LSU was in control.
      However, Lloreda missed the front-end of a one-and-the-bonus to set the stage for Watson’s heroics.
“I am proud of our team for its effort,” said LSU head coach John Brady during his post-game radio show. “Our defense was there, and the rebounding was about even. When you hold a team to 56 points and 38-percent shooting on the road, it should be enough to get the win, but we weren’t able to do it. It was a heartbreaking loss.”
LSU put itself in a hole from the get go, falling behind 22-9 with 7:42 remaining in the first half.
However, the Tigers were able to crawl back to within six points at halftime.
Auburn’s lead got back up to as much as eight, but after LSU tied the score at 41 with 12:01 remaining, the Auburn’s advantage never grew to more than four points.
Dupree led the Tigers with 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting but was only 1-for-4 from the free-throw line.
Daniels led Auburn with 15 points, and Derrick Bird chipped in with 14.
LSU will return to action Wednesday, Feb. 12 when they face SEC East rival Vanderbilt in the PMAC at 7 p.m.