BATON ROUGE — The LSU Tigers shot over 60 percent from the field and broke out of a long slump from behind the three-point arc, hitting 10 treys as LSU defeated Tennessee, 84-67, Wednesday night at the Maravich Assembly Center.
The Tigers are now 15-4 and 5-3 and solidly in second place in the Southeastern Conference Western Division after winning three straight. Tennessee is now 11-7 overall and 3-5 in the SEC Eastern Division.
Darrel Mitchell had a career high 22 points with eight assists as he hit 8-of-11 field goals, including 6-of-9 treys in 37 minutes to lead LSU, while Jaime Lloreda had 18 points and 12 rebounds in 27 minutes. Antonio Hudson off the bench hit four treys and scored 17 points, while Brandon Bass and Tack Minor had 10 points each. It was the third game this season in which LSU had five players in double figures.
Scooter McFadgon, playing with a bruised right wrist, led Tennessee with 21 points, while Brandon Crump and Jemere Hendrix had 12 each for the Volunteers who shot 41.9 percent overall and 47.1 (8-of-17) from three-point range.
LSU out rebounded the Volunteers, 34-28, and the Tigers again were able to get to the free throw line, making 16-of-24, while Tennessee was 7-of-11.
“I was really proud of our team,” said LSU Coach John Brady. “I thought our team played really well, particularly in the second half. I thought we played pretty good in the first half too, but we had 12 turnovers in the first half which is the only thing that bothered me.”
The first 10 minutes of the game was back and forth with the game tied at 15-15 with 9:58 in the first half before going on a 10-2 run with Hudson and Mitchell getting three pointers around four Minor free throws. That put LSU up 25-17 at the 7:37 mark and although Tennessee cut the margin to two at one point, the Tigers led 38-34 at the half.
“I thought if we just continued to do the same thing in the second half and cut down on the turnovers and continue to rebound and defend them then we would have a chance to win the game,” Brady said. “I cannot tell you what it means to make a few shots from the perimeter. That can really change the whole look of your team. I have said it all along; we do not need to make every shot, we just need to make some timely shots. We did that and made a lot of good, timely shots.”
But LSU never lost the lead, although Tennessee cut the game to two twice in the first two minutes of the second half, the Tigers never wavered getting the lead to double figures for the first time, 55-45, at the 12:28 mark and the Tigers would lead by no less than eight after that, getting the final margin of 17 on two occasions.
LSU, after turning the ball over 12 times in the first half, turned the ball over just twice in the second half, and the Tigers are now a perfect 41-0 in the John Brady era when scoring at least 80 points in a game.
“I was really proud of our team because we put ourselves in another positive position,” said Brady. “Saturday Arkansas come here at noon and we are excited about that. We have a chance now to solidify second play and stay on Mississippi State if we can find some way to win Saturday.”
The game Saturday begins at noon and tickets priced at $12 are available at the LSU Athletics Ticket Office and on the Internet at www.LSUsports.net. The popular balloon mascot group, Zooperstars, will provide the halftime entertainment.