LSU Downs Vanderbilt, 90-82
The LSU Tigers won on the road on Saturday evening, defeating the Vanderbilt Commodores, 90-82, in Nashville, Tennessee in the SEC opener for both teams.
The victory gave LSU their first win in five games played outside of Baton Rouge, La. this season.
In a see-saw first half, one in which the lead changed hands ten times, Vanderbilt finished one point better, and took a 35-34 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The Tigers outshot the Commodores from the field over the first 20:00, 44%/33%, while each team had 17 rebounds in the half, but Vandy did their damage from the free-throw line, connecting on all 13 attempts.
Wade Baldwin IV led the way for Vanderbilt in the first half, scoring 11 points, while Ben Simmons paced LSU with 18 points and 3 rebounds.
LSU took the lead, 38-37, at the 19:03 mark of the second half, and held the lead until Vanderbilt tied it, 48-48, with 14:54 remaining.
The Commodores went on to grab the advantage, 51-50, with 14:20 to go, but that would prove to be the last time they would have the lead, as LSU went on a 12-3 run over the next 5:05, to retake the lead, 62-53, at the 9:15 mark of the second half.
The Tigers would never look back, extending the lead to as many as 13 points, before going on to the 8-point victory.
LSU ended the game outshooting Vanderbilt from the field, 48%/46%, while also finishing with a 40-29 rebound advantage.
Simmons led the way for the Tigers, finishing with 36 points and 14 rebounds, while Keith Hornsby added 23 points.
In a losing cause for the Commodores, Baldwin had 17 points, while Jeff Roberson chipped in with 13.
With the victory, LSU improved to 8-5, overall, and 1-0 in SEC play, while Vanderbilt fell to 8-5, and 0-1, respectively.
The Tigers return to action on Tuesday night, when they play host to the Kentucky Wildcats.
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