s
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Marcus Barnes’ third 3-pointer of the game kept Miami from losing for the first time this season.
The 3 from the wing broke the game’s final tie and Miami (No. 23 ESPN/USA Today, No. 24 AP) beat LSU 68-61 in the Sugar Bowl Classic on Thursday night to remain one of Division I’s five unbeaten teams.
“It was a big shot,” Miami coach Perry Clark said. “They had kept him down until the last minute.”
Barnes’ basket gave the Hurricanes (12-0) a 64-61 lead with 55 seconds left.
The winning streak is Miami’s longest since the 1964-65 season and the Hurricanes are one win away from completing an undefeated nonconference schedule for the first time in school history.
John Salmons had 19 points and five assists for Miami, while James Jones had 14 points and seven rebounds and Barnes added 13 points.
Miami was 8-of-18 from 3-point range.
Ronald Dupree led LSU (9-3) with 18 points and eight rebounds, while Jermaine Williams had 13 points and Torris Bright added 11.
Collis Temple III, LSU’s leading scorer at 17.8 points per game before spraining his ankle Dec. 15, was held scoreless in the first half and finished with five points on 2-for-13 shooting.
LSU outrebounded Miami 38-25 but turned the ball over 21 times.
“Any time you turn the ball over 13 times in the first half, it’s a wonder you’re not out of the game,” LSU coach John Brady said. “Had we not turned the ball over ridiculously, we could have won the game.”
Miami took the lead for the first time seven minutes into the game on a basket by Elton Tyler that made it 16-14. The Hurricanes never trailed again, despite a furious second-half rally by the Tigers.
LSU opened the second half with a 12-4 run, tying the score at 46-46 with 16:41 left when Dupree scored consecutive baskets.
The Tigers tied it again at 50 on a basket by Williams with 12:06 left. LSU did not make another field goal for almost six minutes, while Miami went up 59-52 with 6:35 left.
A 7-0 run by the Tigers was capped by Antonio Hudson’s free throw that tied it 59-59 with 3:35 left.
Tyler made two free throws with 3:35 left to put Miami up 61-59. LSU’s Brad Bridgewater scored his only basket of the second half to give the Tigers their final tie, 61-61.