COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) Texas A&M and LSU battled, but the Aggies ultimately fell to the Tigers, 89-85, in overtime Tuesday inside Reed Arena.
LSU’s Javonte Smart started the overtime with a 3-pointer on LSU’s first possession, and Watford made a short jumper in the lane to lift the Tigers to an 86-83 lead with 1:25 remaining. The Aggies’ Wendell Mitchell missed a 3-point attempt with 17 seconds remaining and two Mays free throws sealed the Tigers victory.
Andre Gordon sank a 3-pointer with 2:27 remaining in regulation to shove the Aggies to a 77-71 lead, but LSU’s Marshall Graves and Smart each sank 3-pointers in a 28-second span to tie the game at 79-all to force overtime.
The Aggies (8-7, 2-2 Southeastern) entered the game having held league opponents to 50 points or less in consecutive games for the first time since 2007. LSU (12-4, 4-0 Southeastern) had reached 50 points less than halfway through the second half – and it wound up being key to the outcome.
LSU has won five consecutive games in the series now, including Buzz Williams’ debut against the rival Tigers as A&M coach. Josh Nebo led the Aggies with 20 points and nine rebounds.
The Tigers jumped to a 16-point lead in the first half thanks to hot shooting from Trendon Watford and Smart, who scored a dozen points each in the first 20 minutes. LSU also outrebounded A&M 23-13 in that span.
But the Aggies hung around in the first half in large part because of two 3-pointers each from Savion Flagg, Mitchell and Gordon, and the Tigers led 42-32 at the break.
Aggie G Andre Gordon & F Josh Nebo
Aggie head coach Buzz Williams
LSU head coach Will Wade