BROOKLYN, N.Y. — LSU’s Tim Quarterman and Brandon Sampson scored 19 and 18 points, respectively, to help the Tigers force overtime with NC State. However, LSU’s offensive cog, Ben Simmons, fouled out in overtime and the Tigers fell to the Wolfpack, 83-72, on Tuesday evening in the consolation game of the Legends Classic at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Simmons made only 1-of-6 field goals less than 24 hours after playing 40 minutes in a one-point loss to Marquette. The 6-10 point forward had a double double with 14 rebounds and 10 assists, along with three blocks and three steals.
NC State (3-2) outscored LSU in overtime, 18-7.
LSU (3-2) returns to action on Monday, Nov. 30, when the Tigers travel to face Charleston at 6 p.m. CT.
Sampson had four of LSU’s 11 three pointers, while Quarterman and Blakeney had three each. LSU was 11-of-33 from long range, 28-of-77 from the floor (36.4 percent).
NC State played only seven players, with guard Cat Barber leading the way with 20 points that included 12-of-12 at the free throw line – 6 of 6 in overtime.
Long-range shooters Caleb Martin and Maverick Rowan made six three pointers and combined for 26 points. The Wolfpack was 27-of-68 from the floor and took 19 more free throws than the Tigers.
The teams had nearly identical stat lines through the first 20 minutes of action, each shooting about 41 percent from the field as NC State led 33-31 at the break.
LSU’s largest lead in the first half was 11-5 following consecutive fast-break layups by Patterson. NC State led by as many as five, 29-24, before Blakeney answered with a three pointer and Sampson quickly tied the game with a long jumper from the right wing.
For LSU, Simmons took only one shot in the opening half and did not score. Blakeney made a pair of three pointers and led the Tigers with eight points. NC State’s Caleb Martin had 10 points with a pair of threes as well.
Though Simmons looked to score in the opening minutes, the Wolfpack took advantage of his missed free throws and a missed dunk to roll off a 12-2 run and lead 45-33 in the first three minutes of the second half.
Aggressive defense helped the Tigers answer with an 11-1 run of its own, pulling within a basket and forcing a Wolfpack, 46-44, with 12:04 to play. During the run, Simmons scored his first points of the night at the free throw line with after more than 25 of play. He also had assists on a Patterson three pointer and a dunk by Sampson.
Five-of-7 three-pointers by the Tigers in less than six minutes of play extended the LSU lead to five, 59-54, as Quarterman made three in the 23-9 run.
LSU expanded its advantage to five, 63-58, on a fast-break layup by Quarterman. However, five-straight free throws and a layup by Barber put NC State ahead, 65-63, with less than a minute to play.
Simmons made his first field goal with a driving layup with 38 seconds to play to knot the game at 65-65, but he missed the free throw that would have put the Tigers ahead in regulation.
With 7.8 seconds to play, NC State looked to have a three-point play of its own, however, a shot-clock violation was ruled on the second-chance shot and the basket was waved off after video review.
A long three-pointer by Blakeney was off the mark and overtime was needed.
Ben Simmons is the only D-I player listed at 6’10” or taller with 10 assists and 0 turnovers in a game in the last 20 seasons
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 25, 2015