The country was introduced to the LSU men’s basketball team Thursday night, and the nation saw what LSU fans have been going through the entire season.
The Tigers nearly played the role of spoiler, holding an eight-point lead in the first half and coming as close as two points with 9:26 left in the game.
But LSU (10-16, 2-9) couldn’t pull the upset against Southeastern Conference rival Alabama (17-8, 9-2), falling to the Crimson Tide, 67-56, in front of a roaring student section, a half-full PMAC and a national television audience on ESPN.
“They’re better than we are,” said LSU coach Trent Johnson. “They have some guys with some more experience, and they have a nasty edge to them.”
A layup by Alabama freshman point guard Trevor Releford with 2:12 remaining put his team up, 64-56, and all but sealed LSU’s ninth-straight defeat.
“You have to continue to fight,” Johnson said. “Were there some improvements without looking at tape? I believe so.”
LSU cut Alabama’s lead to two points when freshman point guard Andre Stringer sunk three free throws at the 9:26 mark in the second half. The Tigers were then outscored 17-8 after Stringer’s contributions from the charity stripe.
“It wasn’t so much the pressure,” said LSU freshman guard Ralston Turner. “For the most part we handled it well. It was missing shots in the final five or six minutes.”
Turnovers continued to plague LSU, and Alabama cashed in to the tune of 30 points off LSU’s mistakes.
LSU freshman guard Ralston Turner enjoyed his best outing since returning from a stress fracture in his foot. Turner’s 17 points were his most since Dec.18.
LSU’s ESPN exposure continues Sunday when No. 14 Florida (20-5, 9-2) travels to Baton Rouge for a noon tip-off on the worldwide leader of sports.
The Gators enjoyed the week off after beating Tennessee, 61-60, on Saturday.
Florida coach Billy Donovan’s team has captured at least 20 wins for the past 12 seasons, including back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007.
Derenbecker said he used to be a Florida fan and was even a supporter of former Gator quarterback Tim Tebow during high school.
Things have changed, however, since joining the Tigers this fall.
“Coming to LSU now, I lost that passion for Florida Gator basketball,” Derenbecker said. “Now I just want nothing more than to beat them.”
 
 
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Contact Michael Lambert at [email protected]