Tigers fall short in Knoxville, drop to 2-10

Randy Sartin-Imagn Images

By Hunt Palmer

THE STORY

Down its starting backcourt, LSU hung around on Saturday evening on Rocky Top.

The Tigers led for more than three minutes early in the second half. Ultimately, the lineup wasn’t going to be enough against a Top 40 defensive team, and it wasn’t. LSU started 2-of-14 and missed its last seven field goals, only shooting 38 percent for the game.

Tennessee emerged with a 73-63 win.

Earlier Saturday, Dedan Thomas Jr. was ruled out for the year while he has surgery on his left foot. Max Mackinnon didn’t play, either.

That left LSU without its top two scorers. The Tigers actually stayed within arm’s length because they took care of the ball. LSU only turned it over three times.

In the second half, LSU played some zone defense for the first extended period all season. Tennessee never went on an extended run. It was more of a slow bleed as LSU struggled to make shots and got beat badly on the offensive glass. The Vols scored 22 second chance points to LSU’s four.

Nate Ament, predictably, was a problem for LSU. The dynamic freshman led all scorers with 22 including 10-for-11 from the free throw line.

The Tigers are now 2-10 in the league and without their centerpiece for the rest of the season.