Antonio Blakeney’s 22 leads LSU past Tennessee, 84-75

March 11, 2016 Cody Worsham Basketball 0

Tigers score 52 in second half to move into semifinal matchup with Texas A&M

By CODY WORSHAM
Tiger Rag Editor

LSU’s NCAA Tournament hopes are still alive.

The Tigers got 22 points from Antonio Blakeney and used a 57 percent shooting effort in the second half to exact an 85-74 revenge win on Tennessee.

Tim Quarterman added 18 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds for LSU (19-13), and Ben Simmons scored 15 points with 8 rebounds, despite sitting most of the first half with foul trouble. Josh Gray started and chipped in 11 points, while Craig Victor’s 10 rounded out LSU’s double-figure scorers.

Robert Hubbs and Detrick Mostella each scored 19 points for Tennessee (15-19).

With Simmons sidelined after picking up two quick fouls, LSU trailed 33-32 at the half. Tennessee finished the first half on a 13-4 run, taking their first lead on Hubbs’ layup with just over a minute to play. LSU started the game 8 for 15 from the field, but missed 12 of 15 to close out the first 20 minutes.

That slump was short-lived. Five points and an assist from Gray put LSU up 41-35 less than three minutes into the second. Tennessee fought to stay close, even taking the lead at the 10 minute mark on two Hubbs free throws, but LSU responded. Quarterman buried a huge 3 to put LSU up 59-57 with 6:17 to play, and the Tigers never trailed again, using a 14-2 run over the next 4:04 to seal the victory. Blakeney hit all nine free throws, giving him 28 straight makes at the line, just seven short of Chris Jackson’s school record.

LSU advances to play No. 1 seed Texas A&M at noon on Saturday. The teams split their two meetings, each winning on its home court.

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sixty four − = fifty seven