Waters hits layup late to lift LSU past Maryland into Sweet 16

When it comes to March, guard play can put your team over the top. Think of tournament-long play like Isiah Thomas, or maybe “one shining moment” like Tyus Edney.

Needing that moment Saturday, that’s exactly what LSU interim head coach Tony Benford turned – to his point guard.

In a tie game in the closing seconds, coming out of a time out, it was all in the hands of sophomore Tremont Waters.

Waters drove through the Maryland defense for a layup with 1.6 seconds remaining to lift third-seeded LSU to a 69-67 victory over the Terrapins in the second round of the NCAA men’s basketball championship in Jacksonville, Florida.

The win sends the Tigers to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2006. Coincidentally, that run to the Final Four also started in Jacksonville. LSU will meet either No. 2 seed Michigan State next Friday night.

LSU (28-6) led by as many as 15 points in each half – the second-half edge coming after Skylar Mays made a pair of technical free throws with 16 minutes left when Maryland coach Mark Turgeon was whistled for arguing a call heading into a TV time out.

That technical swung the momentum in the Terrapins’ favor, however. Maryland scored the next eight points to pull within seven and its zone defense stifled the Tigers’ offense.

Jalen Smith’s bucket with 6:34 left tied the game at 55-all and his free throws moments later gave Maryland its first lead.

Before Waters’ heroics, it was Skylar Mays who made the big shots. He hit a pair of three-pointers – one to tie the game with 4:13 left and another with 40 seconds left to give LSU a 67-64 lead.

Smith’s triple tied the game with 28 seconds remaining. LSU called a timeout after crossing midcourt before Waters came up with the game-winning play.

Maryland was out of time outs and could only attempt a three-quarters court heave at the buzzer.

Mays led LSU with 16 points. Naz Reid, who along with Kavell Bigby-Williams got into foul trouble, finished with 13, while Waters had 12.

“He’s always with us.”

Tremont Waters said this LSU win was for his teammate Wayde Sims, who was shot and killed in September.pic.twitter.com/e1JnoAUfDF

— Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 23, 2019