:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45693210/usa-today-8355358.0.jpg)
While hundreds of people converged on 6th Street in Mamou for the Mardi Gras, the LSU Basketball team converged on Knoxville for a game against the Tennessee Volunteers Saturday afternoon. The Tigers set the theme of the night by dominating in three facets of the game being three pointers, slam dunks, and free throws as they routed the Vols 73-55. LSU as a team knocked down nine baskets from beyond the arc. Keith Hornsby came out the gate hot scoring two three pointers within the first eight minutes of the game to put the Tigers up 14-8. Minutes later he drained one from the top of the key to go up 21-10 with 10:45 remaining in the half.
Jalyn Patterson and Tim Quarterman closed out the half with two three pointers each giving the visiting team a 47-20 advantage. The Tigers led 66-47 after Quarterman’s third trey of the night with 5:36 remaining in the second half. Hornsby then closed out the night with his fourth at just under two minutes to go. Jordan Mickey turned in a windmill dunk up and over the undersized Volunteer interior with 11:53 to go in the half. He then converted an assist from Quarterman into another slam putting the Tigers up 18-10. Mickey led the way for the Tigers with 20-points, 11-rebounds, and seven blocked shots. And when Quarterman was not banking treys, he was dunking on his own. His dunk came in transition on a Hornsby lob pass with 9:51 to go in the first half. Quarterman then assisted Brian Bridgewater for a slam dunk with 8:32 remaining in the game. The Tigers at that juncture led 62-41.
What had been the Tigers’ Achilles heel the last couple ball games is what secured the win. LSU shot from the free throw point line at a whopping 80-percent in the first half and followed it up with a 75-percent in the second half. Hornsby, Quarterman, Josh Gray, and Bridgewater each batted 1.000 on the night. The "M&M Boys" went a combined seven for 11 from the charity stripe.
With the win the Tigers moved up the SEC standings and are now tied with the Georgia Bulldogs for the number five spot. They will look to move up again in the standings Tuesday night as they head to College Station.