POSTGAME: Vanderbilt 77, LSU 71

After finding themselves down 46-30 with less than 17 minutes left in the game, the Tigers (11-7, 2-4) fell to the Vanderbilt Commodores this afternoon by a score of 77-71. LSU spent the better part of the second half playing catch-up, and eventually took a one point lead with less than three minutes left in the game. From there on, however, the sloppy play that put them down by sixteen continued to haunt the Tigers, causing them to drop their third straight game.

Forward Duop Reath had a monster game for the Tigers, setting a career-high mark with 31 points, and snagging a season-high 13 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. Reath, however, continued his woes at the free throw line, only converting four of his eight attempts. The Tigers finished 13-of-21 from the charity stripe as a team, well below their season average.

After losing the rebound battle by 16 and 11 in their last two losses, LSU actually out-rebounded Vandy this afternoon 38-31. The issue for this afternoon’s game was the Tigers being unable to establish anything close to a rhythm on offense, usually a strength of theirs. Outside of Duop Reath, the Tigers shot 14-of-42 from the field for a pitiful 33.3%.

For the first time this season, Tremont Waters scored less than 10 points in back to back contests. He shot 3-of-12 from the field. The Tigers are 4-3 this season when Waters fails to score in the double digits.

Senior guard Riley LaChance led the Commodores with 26 points, shooting 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line. He scored 30 combined points in the previous four games. Senior power forward Jeff Roberson contributed 20 points of his own, his fourth straight game with 10+ points.

The Tigers look to break their three game skid as they return to the PMAC Tuesday night to take on the Texas A&M Aggies (13-6, 2-5). LSU knocked off the Aggies earlier this month in College Station 69-68 after a last second prayer by Tremont Waters.