The LSU Tigers fell in SEC men's basketball action on Saturday night, dropping an 82-80 decision to the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

LSU trailed, 36-23, at halftime, and then was down by as many as 19 points, 44-25, with 17:04 to go in the second half, before Andre Stringer tipped in a missed shot at the 5:44 mark, giving them a 69-68 lead, a shot that capped off 44-24 LSU run, over an 11:20 time span.

Alabama was again to regain the lead, 74-72, but Anthony Hickey nailed a three-point shot, giving the Tigers the lead back, 75-74, with 2:02 to go.

The Crimson Tide came right back, as Rodney Cooper converted a lay-up at the 1:32 mark, giving them the lead back, 76-75.

On the next trip down court, Johnny O'Bryant hit a baby jumper, as LSU retook the lead, 77-76 with 1:12 left.

Shannon Hale then responded, in a big way, putting in a clutch three-point shot, as Alabama regained the lead, 79-77, with :37 remaining.

After a steal, Trevor Releford, a 90% free throw shooter, converted two free throws, extending the Alabama lead to 81-77 with :15 left.

Stringer, after getting fouled on a three-point field goal attempt, hit all three free throws, as LSU cut the Alabama lead to 81-80 with :06 to go.

After a quick foul, Rodney Cooper went to the line for Alabama and sank his first free throw, before missing his second, as the Crimson Tide held an 82-90 lead with :04 remaining.

The Tigers had one final chance, but Hickey, who tried to go coast-to-coast, had his jumper in the lane blocked, as Alabama held on for the two-point win, their ninth-consecutive win over LSU in Tuscaloosa.

The Crimson Tide out-shot the Tigers from the field, 52%-47%, while LSU finished with a 34-29 rebound advantage.

Releford led the way for Alabama, scoring a game-high 21 points, while Cooper finished with 19, and Hale 17.

In a losing cause for LSU, O'Bryant finished with 18 points with Shavon Coleman chipping in with 13.

With the victory, Alabama improved to 9-10, overall, and 3-3 in SEC play, while LSU dropped to 12-6, overall, and 3-3 in league play.

View the game box score.

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