BATON ROUGE — Tasmin Mitchell exploded for a season-high 38 points on a career-best 15 field goals but the LSU men’s basketball team dropped an 84-80 shootout to Auburn Wednesday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
Mitchell used an array of baskets to finish three points shy of his career-high. He also hauled in 10 rebounds highlighted by six offensive boards. The Denham Springs product was joined by Storm Warren and Bo Spencer in double figures as LSU’s (9-9, 0-4 SEC) big three combined for 67 of the team’s 80 points. The Tigers dropped to 7-3 this season when each member of the trio reaches double figures.
Warren tallied 17 points and 11 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season, while Spencer added 12 points and four assists.
LSU used a Mitchell free throw to go ahead 76-72 at the 3:26 mark. Auburn (10-9, 1-3 SEC) responded by scoring 12 of the final 16 points and took a 78-76 advantage on a Frankie Sullivan three-pointer with 1:12 remaining. Auburn also converted on 6-of-8 at the free throw line over the final 30 seconds to secure the 84-80 win.
A pair of Sullivan free throws pushed Auburn ahead 37-29 with 5:36 left in the first half before LSU charged back with a 19-8 spurt to close the half and grab a 47-45 edge heading into halftime.
LSU continued its strong play out of the locker room and stretched its lead to 60-53 on a Spencer three-point play with 13:58 to go. Auburn used a Lucas Hargrove lay-up along with back-to-back triples from DeWayne Reed to turn the tables and make it 61-60 in a 73-second span.
Auburn had five players register double-figures highlighted by Reed’s 21 points. Sullivan chipped in 15 points, while Hargrove and Tay Waller notched 14 points apiece.
LSU faces off against No. 22 Ole Miss on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. CST and the game will be televised by the SEC Network. Fans also can listen to the game on the LSU Sports Radio Network (New Country 100.7 FM The Tiger in Baton Rouge) and online at LSUsports.net in the Geaux Zone.
LSU HEAD COACH TRENT JOHNSON QUOTES
Opening statement …
“I don’t know exactly at what point it was, but at some point, we had a seven or six point lead. Then, we attacked the ball in the post, and there was drop and a missed layup. For us, our margin of error is so slim, it just seemed like every time we tried to get this game back into a good rhythm they would come down and make a play. They are a hard guard and matchup for us because they stretch us on the perimeter, and they are really skilled. You take Aaron (Dotson) out of the equation, and he was playing really well. I can’t fault our effort or the way we fought back. If there had been a play here or a play there, we probably wouldn’t be feeling like this. We need to give credit to Auburn. We will be off tomorrow. The team is really down. This is probably the most down I’ve seen them, so I want to give them tomorrow off to go to school. We have to come back on Friday and practice because we have a quick turnaround for an afternoon game against Ole Miss on Saturday.”
On if losing the lead was frustrating …
“I don’t want to say it’s frustration. They are a bad matchup. You have (Tay) Waller, (DeWayne) Reed and (Frankie) Sullivan, and they have a quickness and skill advantage. We are matching Zach (Kinsley) and sophomore Chris Bass. There is no frustration, but I was just disappointed form the standpoint that once we got a lead in a game like this, it was our mistakes that gave them another possession. While you look at Reed, Waller and Sullivan, and Auburn’s points at the half, I look at the times we gave them an extra possession.”
On Tasmin’s contribution to the game …
“The team knows we are running through Tasmin. It’s predicated in what we call. Since we are talking about Tasmin, I think this is probably the best game I’ve seen him play since he’s been at LSU, especially when you look at the double teams and the weapons that he lost. I know it’s hard for everyone to understand and accept, but I look out there and see what we are playing with, and there are some positives. We have to be realistic as a team and also me as a coach. Zach is not trying to miss a layup. Eddie (Ludwig) is not trying to miss a layup. Chris is doing the best he can in trying to keep a fifth-year senior like DeWayne Reed in front of him. It was tough because the thing got away because the kids felt pressure or whatever it was. It just got away from us
LSU PLAYER QUOTES
On frustration after tonight’s loss to Auburn…
“It’s very frustrating. No matter how good we play we always want to come out with a victory. That’s what we want.”
On difficulties guarding Auburn…
“I think we stopped ourselves. I don’t think it was anything particular that Auburn did. I think we had a couple of breakdowns. We had some easy drives to the basket where there were jump shots we didn’t make, and they capitalized. They are a guard-oriented team. We capitalized on every possession, and they countered our capitalization.”
On defensive struggles against Auburn…
“No one is perfect. There will be mistakes. We have to play through the mistakes. Auburn came out and capitalized on our mistakes. At the end of the game that’s what got them the victory.”
On making improvements for next game versus Ole Miss…
“It’s always the same thing with our team. We have problems with defensive breakdowns. We don’t sustain our intensity on defense for the long haul.”
G/F Zach Kinsley
On Tasmin Mitchell’s performance in tonight’s game…
“He put us on his back. It’s just frustrating we couldn’t help him out.”
On Tasmin Mitchell’s performance…
“He played well. He was doing his job. We have to give him help. We have to get a win.”
AUBURN POSTGAME QUOTES
Head Coach Jeff Lebo
On the team’s effort tonight…
“I thought everybody really contributed in this game. I think some guys made key contributions when we couldn’t guard Mitchell, obviously. We finally put E.J. [Earnest Ross] on him and he did an excellent job. He didn’t give him many touches or many looks. He was terrific tonight, Mitchell, shooting the ball and posting. We doubled him early, but I thought E.J.’s job in the second half was key.”
On getting their first SEC win on the road…
“There’s no easy place to play in this league, and to get a win here tonight gives us some confidence.”
Guard Frankie Sullivan
On having five guys in double figures tonight…
“It keeps the defense thrown off. You have to keep changing the defense and you don’t know who to guard. It really helps us out a lot and hopefully we can continue that in the future.”
On Tasmin Mitchell’s performance tonight…
“Sometimes a guy has a night where the basket looks like an ocean and everything he throws up goes in. He made some big shots, and once we made some adjustments and put E.J. on him, he played him more physically. He [Mitchell] wasn’t putting it on the floor, he was just taking a lot of jump shots. E.J. played him real well and I’m proud of him.”
Guard Earnest Ross
On the need to get a win in SEC play…
“I felt like it was a very big win. Coming off a three-game losing streak, we had to have a win in the books.”
On his mindset in guarding Tasmin Mitchell…
“My mindset was to come out here and not even let him touch the ball. I figured that if he didn’t touch the ball, the other players would have to create and score for their team. I just wanted to let his teammates have to try to win it for them.”