Four players scored in double-figures and Florida Gulf Coast University outscored LSU 44-38 in the second half, but the Eagles dropped an 80-71 decision to the Tigers Sunday afternoon in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Rahmir Barno had a season-high 15 points. The sophomore netted 10 or more for the fourth game in a row.
Rory Stewart connected on four 3-pointers to tally a dozen points.
Dallion Johnson scored 11 points in the first half, while
Keeshawn Kellman made his return to the FGCU lineup with a double-double, scoring 11 and adding 11 rebounds.
The Eagles (3-8) scored the first four points of the game thanks to a Kellman hook and a
Dallion Johnson floater in the paint; however, LSU (8-1) would score the next 10 points and take a lead it would never relinquish. LSU would hold a 42-27 lead after one half of play.
LSU would lead by 21 early in the second half, but the Eagles went 4-of-5 from the field during one stretch to trim the lead to 13, 56-43, with 11:00 left. LSU pushed its lead back up to 22 with just over six minutes to go, and the hosts held an 18-point advantage with 3:11 left.
Still, FGCU would get back into the game late. A basket by Kellman and a pair of free-throws by
Zavian McLean cut the lead to 14. Then,
Darren Williams got hot from long range. The freshman hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 11, then after two free-throws by the Tigers, Williams connected from deep again. LSU hit two more free-throws, but Williams drained a shot from the left wing for his third-straight 3-pointers in a row to make it an 80-71 game. LSU would run out the clock from there.
FGCU would out-rebound LSU on the offensive glass, 13-11. Those offensive rebounds would lead to a 12-9 advantage in second-chance points for the Eagles. FGCU's bench also out-scored the bench of LSU, 23-13. LSU would have more turnovers than the Eagles, 14-13, but LSU scored 21 points off of FGCU turnovers and 20 fast-break points, compared to just 10 fast-break points for the Eagles and 10 FGCU points off of LSU miscues.
All five of LSU's starters scored in double-figures, led by 18 from Daimion Collins.
The Eagles will be back in action Dec. 18 at UNC Wilmington. FGCU's next home game will be Dec. 22 at 1 p.m. against Florida Tech. Tickets for that game are available by visiting
FGCUTickets.com.
