HOUSTON – The Houston Cougars jumped out quickly on the LSU Tigers in overtime and took control of the extra session, negating a scintillating return to play of senior guard Keith Hornsby, in a 105-98 decision over the Tigers before a crowd of 7,918 at Hofheinz Pavilion.
The Cougars outscored LSU, 21-14, in the five minutes as LSU surrendered over 100 points for the second straight game. It was Hornsby who forced the overtime with a left wing free throw line extended three-pointer with seven seconds left to tie the game at 84-84. It was the eighth time of the contest.
In the overtime, with LSU’s Ben Simmons fouled out of the game at the 2:41 mark of regulation, Houston scored the first five points of the extra time with Rob Gray, Jr., hitting a three on their opening possession. Josh Gray missed a jumper on LSU’s first possession of overtime, but Tim Quarterman grabbed the offensive board leading to a Hornsby miss. Gray was fouled as Houston came out with the ball and he hit two free throws for an 89-84 advantage after 58 seconds of play.
LSU would get no closer than three points on two different occasions in the overtime.
Hornsby, who was dressing for the first time this season after minor internal surgery prior to the season, played 37 minutes and scored a career high 32 (his fifth career game over 20 points), hitting 10-of-17 field goals (6-of-10 treys) and 6-of-7 free throws with three assists, one steal and no turnovers.
Quarterman tied his career high (set last year in the double overtime win versus Georgia) with 27 points, on 8-of-14 shooting (2 treys) and 9-11 free throws. Quarterman had 6 assists, 10 rebounds and just two turnovers in 41 minutes of play for LSU.
Ben Simmons had his sixth consecutive double double, the longest streak since Glen Davis in 2006 had eight straight, with 13 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, two blocks and three steals. Simmons was 5-of-7 from the field and 3-of-5 at the charity stripe. Aaron Epps was again in double figures, post 12 points off the bench.
LSU shot 50 percent for the game (34-of-68), the second time in Johnny Jones‘ era that LSU has lost when shooting 50 percent or better, ending a 17-game winning streak. LSU shot 18-of-32 in the second half and 5-of-10 in the overtime period.
Gray, Jr., led Houston with 31 points in 26 minutes as he hit 10-of-19 field goals, two treys, and a perfect 9-of-9 at the line. Danrad Knowles was 7-of-11 from the field, scoring 20 points with 9 boards (6 offensive), while Damyean Dotson had 13 points and 10 rebounds and Devonta Pollard had 10.
The Cougars shot 51.4 percent for the game (37-of-72), aided by a perfect 5-of-5 from the field (including two treys) in the overtime and 9-of-12 from the line.
Hurting the Tigers was a 46-33 disadvantage on the glass, including 17-9 on the offensive boards. Houston posted a 20-8 advantage on second chance points and 50-42 in points in the paint.
The Cougars went to the dressing room at the half, up 45-36, as LSU failed to make a field goal in the last 7:38 of the half and Houston outscored the Tigers, 15-3.
Like the North Florida game, the Tigers began to make inroads in the second half, taking the lead, 52-51, on a Hornsby three. But that advantage would only last 45 seconds as Houston eventually built the lead back to seven on two occasions, the last with 9:30 to play.
Over the next three-plus minutes, LSU outscored the Cougars, 8-0 and took a 72-70 lead with 6:06 to go. From there the game would go back and forth with the Hornsby three off the pass from Quarterman forcing the inevitable five more minutes.
It marked the first time LSU has surrendered 100 points in back-to-back games since December 1990 when the Tigers beat Loyola Marymount, 122-114, and lost at Illinois, 102-96, on Dec. 20 and 22 of that year.
LSU now comes home for three games prior to Christmas break, facing Gardner-Webb on Wednesday at 6 p.m. on the SEC Network and the LSU Sports Radio Network. LSU will play Oral Roberts on Saturday at 1 p.m. (note game time change) and go to Christmas break after a Dec. 22 7 p.m. game with American University.
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