By Hunt Palmer
THE STORY: This one played out according to script.
Tennessee came out in a sandwich spot and wasn’t crisp. They had eyes on Alabama on Saturday.
LSU’s first shot defense was effective, and the score remained in reach. Ultimately, the Volunteer defense was too much, and the LSU defense could not keep Tennessee off the glass.
Tennessee left Baton Rouge with a 65-59 win.
Though things never got out of hand, Tennessee wasn’t in jeopardy of losing the lead over the final eight minutes. At one point that margin swelled to 14.
Even a late 7-0 spurt from the Tigers (14-14, 3-12) was only good enough to cut the Tennessee lead to seven with 46 seconds left. Vyctorius Miller was given three free throws for a cylinder foul with 10 seconds left. He made two of the three to make the lead five.
LSU fouled with 7.9 seconds left. Jahmai Mashack made one of two to create the final margin.
This is who Tennessee is. It’s the Vols identity. They smother inferior opponents with ball pressure, defensive fundamentals, toughness and scheme. They often don’t run away and hide with a lead because their offense doesn’t allow it.
This is who LSU is. They defend admirably. The offense outside of Cam Carter is disjointed and inconsistent. They cannot rebound on the defensive end.
All of that played out.
Credit to Jahmai Mashack. His job was to escort Carter all over the floor. He did. Carter struggled to get loose and never got going. He had two points at the half and only made two shots in the second half.
The Tigers don’t quit, but it’s a familiar refrain, these top 15 teams that the SEC throws at the Tigers game after game are just too much.
The freshmen continue to develop. Both Millers, Vyctorius and Robert, gave LSU quality minutes. Vyctorius did it on the offensive end with 17 points including a couple of early threes. Robert did it on the glass with nine rebounds in 19 minutes. Both players dealt with foul trouble against arguably the most physical team in the league.
THE STATS: Tennessee got 17 offensive rebounds and turned those into 27 second chance points. LSU had eight second chance points. LSU lost the glass 44-28. That outweighed a ton of stats that leaned LSU.
LSU won field goal percentage 41.2% to 41.1%
LSU won made threes 7-to-6
LSU won free throw percentage 63% to 62%
LSU committed just 10 turnovers to Tennessee’s 11.
LSU’s bench outscored the Vols 8-to-6.
Carter was 3-for-10 from the floor and 1-for-6 from three. He had 12 points, 2 assists and 2 turnovers.
Vyctorius Miller finished with 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting. He made 3-of-6 from three.
Tennessee led for 33:58. LSU led for 1:32.
Curtis Givens and Jordan Sears combined for one assist and four turnovers.
Tennessee forward Felix Okpara was 6-for-6 from the floor and 3-for-3 from the line. He scored 15 points.
