It is not often that the Alabama basketball team loses two straight games at the Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Ala. As a matter of fact, the Crimson Tide had not lost two straight games at home since the 1996-97 season.
However, it is not often that LSU (14-4, 4-3 Southeastern Conference) hits on 92.3 percent of its free throws, which is exactly what it did Saturday night in Tuscaloosa.
The Tigers used a stellar team performance at the line and a resurgent performance by junior guard Antonio Hudson to beat ‘Bama (11-7, 3-4 SEC), 60-54, before the 11,360 in attendance at Coleman Coliseum.
LSU, which has struggled all season long to knock down free throws, hit on 24-of-26 attempts, totaling 18 more makes from the line than Alabama.
Shooting from the field was a different story, as LSU shot a dismal 32.7 percent. But the Tigers knocked down some big shots at the right time, with maybe the biggest coming from the previously struggling Hudson.
Hudson, who was relegated to the bench in favor of Darrel Mitchell at the start of the game, found himself open behind the 3-point line with 1:53 remaining and LSU trailing 48-47. He sank the shot from the corner and the Tigers never fell behind again. In all, Hudson scored 10 points and pulled down five rebounds, a far cry better than his 12 total points in LSU’s three previous games.
As usual this year for LSU, the game was a defensive one, with 31 total turnovers between the two teams and neither squad shooting 40 percent from the field. But LSU made more plays at the end of the game, even though ‘Bama had its chances.
“Our defense was good tonight on both ends of the floor,” said Crimson Tide coach Mark Gottfried. “We just couldn’t generate enough offense. We had a lot of good looks, late in the game, but we didn’t step up and make those shots. Obviously, if you don’t make them, you’re going to be in trouble.”
The game was nip and tuck in the first half, with neither team able to muster up enough offense to start any kind of run. LSU did finish the half on an 8-3 run and went into the locker room up 28-22.
It was much of the same in the second half, as both offenses continued to struggle. At the 11:47 point, LSU led 39-34.
Then ‘Bama went on an 8-0 run and led 42-39 with 7:02 remaining off a lay-up by Kennedy Winston.
The Crimson Tide led 48-47 before Hudson’s 3-pointer, and LSU led the rest of the way to take over sole possession of second place in the SEC West.
LSU’s big men Jaime Lloreda and Brandon Bass continued to chug along, as both recorded double-doubles.
Bass had 15 points and 13 rebounds and Lloreda contributed 14 points and 11 boards.