LSU rally falls short at Alabama, 88-82

TUSCALOOSA – LSU scored 53 second half points and shot 56 percent in the second half as the Tigers tried to rally from 18 points down against Alabama Saturday in Coleman Coliseum.

The Tigers were able to get the game to one point with 1:35 to play but the Crimson Tide had the answers in the final 90 seconds to score an 88-82 win.

LSU drops to 18-7 and 9-3 in the SEC with Alabama now at 14-11 and 6-6 in the league.

The game turned late in the first half as the teams went to the final media time out tied at 25-25. Alabama outscored LSU, 15-4, over the final 4:08 of the half to go to the dressing room up 40-29.

The Tide opened the second half with a 19-12 advantage to open up the 18-point lead with 14:08 to play at 59-41.

Down 14 with 5:47 to play, the Tigers began to turn the momentum back the other way with Days, Watford and Mays all getting easy buckets to put the game to eight, 73-65, with 4:54 to play. After an Alabama bucket pushed it to 75-65, Trendon Watford hit a three and Mays, after an Alabama miss, scored to put the Tide lead to 75-70 with 3:29 to go.

After an exchange of points left it 77-72 for Alabama, Marlon Taylor stole an inbounds and got it to Javonte Smart for a three to cut the game to 77-75 with still two minutes to play. Alabama made two free throws to make it 79-75 and then Mays hit a three-pointer to make it 79-78 with 1:35 left.

But the Tide was able to get two three-pointers that pushed the margin out to a win for Alabama.

Mays led LSU with his third straight game of 20 points or more game, scoring 24 points with nine rebounds, three assists and three steals. Watford had 18 points and Emmitt Williams had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Kira Lewis Jr., had 27 points to lead Alabama with Jaden Shackelford getting 26. Galin Smith had 10 points. Herbert Jones had six points and 17 rebounds.

Charles Manning Jr., returned to action for LSU playing 15 minutes with two points, three rebounds, an assist and a block.

LSU was 19-of-34 from the field in the second half with seven treys. For the game, LSU shot 43.3 percent (29-67) with 11 treys and 13-of-17 at the line. Alabama was 28-of-66 (42.4%) with 13 treys and 19-of-26 at the line. LSU out rebounded the Tide, 44-42.

LSU returns home for an 8 p.m. game on Tuesday night against Kentucky. Tickets are on sale at LSUTix.net and during normal business hours at the LSU Athletic Ticket Office.