After starting SEC play 1-4, the LSU Tigers were looking for a crucial win on the road in Coleman Coliseum against Nate Oats’ fourth-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. However, a strong 19-point from Aden Holloway and three other players in double figures helped the Tide weather the storm and take down LSU 80-73.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
LSU jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead in this one as Corey Chest had five points for the Tigers. However, Bama answered with a 7-0 run to take a 9-7 lead at the first media timeout with 15:49 remaining in the first half.
LSU held a 17-13 lead at the next media timeout as Jordan Sears connected on three consecutive free throws to flip the momentum for the Tigers. Chest continued to pace the Tigers with seven points.
This matchup between SEC foes stayed close throughout the first half, with the Tide leading 23-21 at the under-eight media timeout. With 5:42 left in the opening half, Alabama had their largest lead of the game thus far at six.
Before long, LSU would cut into the Alabama lead yet again, making it a 31-30 game at the final media timeout of the first half. In the final four minutes, Jordan Sears had five points for the Bayou Bengals to tie it up at 40-40 at the halftime break. Despite shooting just 38% from the field in the first 20 minutes compared to Alabama’s 52%, LSU was able to keep the game tied in Tuscaloosa. Chris Youngblood led the way with 11 points for the Tide, while Chest and Sears had 10 a piece for the Tigers.
In the second half, LSU and Alabama traded baskets in the early going. At the first media timeout with 15:02 left in the game, the Crimson Tide led 52-50 as Aden Holloway had a pair of three-pointers in the first five minutes.
Grant Nelson and Holloway continued to control things for the Tide, but LSU wasn’t going away quietly. The largest lead for Bama was seven points, but a quick layup cut the lead to five before a media timeout with 11:10 remaining.
Both teams then spent the next four minutes struggling to buy a bucket as only two points were scored between them and the Tide had a 65-58 lead with seven minutes remaining.
Heading down the final stretch, Alabama continued to lead 69-62 as Holloway continued to lead the Tide with 19 points. Nelson and Youngblood each had 11 points as well to keep Alabama ahead.
Chest had a 14-point, 18-rebound double-double for the Bayou Bengals, but it wasn’t nearly enough as a late 8-0 run for the Tide was answered lte with a 7-0 run from the Tigers with less than a minute to go, but it wasn’t enough as the Tide held on for an 80-73 final. Holloway led Alabama with 19 points on 5-14 shooting while Jordan Sears led the scoring for LSU with 21 on 7-14 shooting.
BIG NUMBER: 44
Alabama got 44 points from their bench, outscoring LSU’s bench by 16 to pace away from the Tigers down the stretch of the second half.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Aden Holloway
Holloway led the way for Alabama in this one with 19 points on 5-14 shooting, including 3 long balls and a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line.
UP NEXT: LSU returns home to continue a tough stretch of SEC basketball as they welcome the top-ranked Auburn Tigers to the PMAC. Tip-off is set for 6:00 and can be heard on ESPN 103.7 Lafayette and 104.1 Lake Charles.
