LSU 65, Utah 51
BATON ROUGE, La. — After three convincing home victories, the Utah basketball team fell back into its miserable road mode Tuesday night.
The Utes got off to a slow start and could never climb out of a deep hole, losing to LSU 65-51 in a nationally televised game on ESPN. With the loss the Utes fell to 6-3, while LSU improved to 5-0.
Not only was the game similar to earlier double-digit losses to Texas Tech and Connecticut, it resembled Utah's last visit to SEC country two years ago at Alabama when the Utes fell behind 20-5 en route to a 15-point loss.
This time the Utes fell behind by 15 in the first half and trailed by as many as 17 in the second half before rallying to cut the lead to single digits with six minutes left. But a couple of key misses as well as some defensive lapses allowed LSU to extend the lead at the end.
Coach Rick Majerus kept his team in the locker room for 40 minutes afterward and said he was not happy with his team's lack of toughness.
"They were very physical and they intimidated us," he said. "They just took it to us and pounded us. They got 17 offensive boards, and I counted 11 for baskets. That's 22 points because you don't block out."
LSU had not played in 17 days, since Nov. 29, because of exams and scheduling problems, and coach John Brady was concerned how his team would react after the long layoff. On Saturday he even had his team play a scrimmage with officials present.
Also, because attention in Baton Rouge has focused on the LSU football team, which will be playing in the Sugar Bowl for a possible national championship in less than three weeks, Brady sent out e-mails to 6,000 season-ticket holders and some students to remind them about the game.
The crowd of 8,896 was more than the season average of 7,405, and the crowd was into the game from the start at the Maravich Assembly Center.
The Tigers jumped to leads of 7-2 and 15-8 before the Utes pulled within 17-13 on an inside shot by Andrew Bogut. However, the Utes only scored one more field goal over the final 10 minutes, a Tim Frost jumper with 7:57 left.
LSU ran off eight straight points to make it 30-15 before the Utes added four free throws before half. The Utes shot just 27.3 percent in the first half on 6-for-22 from the field, although they did make all six of their free throws for a change.
The Tigers scored the first six points of the second half and looked like they'd turn the game into a rout. But the Utes didn't give up and chipped away at the lead and climbed within nine at 52-43 with 6:19 left on a pair of Justin Hawkins' free throws.
After an LSU free throw, the Utes had a chance to cut the lead to seven and who better to try than Nick Jacobson, the Utes' leading scorer.
He had a wide open 3-pointer from the right angle but shot an airball, much to the delight of the crowd.
A minute later, Jacobson lost his man on the baseline and Darrel Mitchell scored to make it 56-43 and that was it for the Utes.
"That was even more crucial than the missed 3-pointer," said Jacobson. "I didn't pick up my guy on a pick on the right baseline and he gets a layup. Usually I'm not the guy that allows that to happen, but I take responsibility for that."
The Ute offense struggled all night, like it did in the previous two losses as the Utes just couldn't find a way to attack inside and rushed their shots from the outside. Turnovers were also a problem as several times Ute players were simply picked clean by Tiger players, who converted with layups at the other end.
Bogut led the Utes with 11 points and 11 rebounds, while Hawkins and Frost each scored 10 and Jacobson nine. The Utes ended up shooting just 34.8 percent for the game and only 2 of 9 from 3-point range. The Utes did shoot well from the foul line, however, making 17 of 20.
The Tigers were led by Jaime Lloreda, a former Dixie College star, who finished with 16 points and eight rebounds. Freshman Brandon Bass added 15 points and eight rebounds, while Mitchell scored 13 points.
UTE NOTES: The Utes will play Cal State Northridge Friday night at the Huntsman Center, where the past three Ute opponents have scored 46, 39 and 39 points . . . Jacobson tied Keith Van Horn's career mark for 3-pointers with 2:18 left in the game. He can break the record Friday with one trey . . . Former Utah Director of Basketball Operations Mike Schneider sat behind the bench. Schneider left the U. for a job as an attorney in New Orleans . . . The was the first-ever meeting ever between Utah and LSU in basketball. The Tigers will play in Salt Lake next season.
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