Vanderbilt slides past LSU in SEC opener for both teams

Field Level Media|published: Sat 4th January, 19:26 2025

NCAA Basketball: Vanderbilt at Louisiana State

Jan 4, 2025; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers guard Dji Bailey (4) and Vanderbilt Commodores guard Grant Huffman (4) go for a loose ball during the first half at Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

AJ Hoggard scored 17 points to lead a balanced scoring effort and Vanderbilt held off LSU 80-72 in the SEC opener for both teams Saturday afternoon in Baton Rouge, La.

Jaylen Carey and MJ Collins added 14 points each, Jason Edwards scored 12 and Tyler Nickel had 11 for the Commodores (13-1), who had scoring advantages of 18-4 in second-chance points and 18-9 in points off turnovers.

Cam Carter scored 22, Jordan Sears had 17 and Corey Chest had 12 to lead the Tigers (11-3).

Carter made a layup to start the second-half scoring and pull the Tigers within 34-29. Devin McGlockton and Nickel each made a 3-pointer and the Commodores rebuilt the lead to nine points.

Carter scored five points and Sears had four as LSU got within 42-40. The Tigers got within two a second time before Vanderbilt scored six straight to take a 53-45 lead midway through the half.

Chest scored five points and Carter added a 3-pointer that tied the score at 55. LSU took a one-point lead before the Commodores scored six straight points.

Chest made one of two free throws, but Hoggard answered with a 3-pointer for a 64-57 lead. The Tigers crept within three, but Carey and Hoggard each converted a three-point play to put Vanderbilt in command.

LSU scored the first four points of the game and the score was tied three times before Edwards' three-point play gave Vanderbilt an 11-8 lead. The Tigers got within one point three times, but the Commodores had an answer each time.

Consecutive baskets by McGlockton and Hoggard helped Vanderbilt take a four-point lead and LSU committed three turnovers during a 9-0 run that expanded the lead to 32-19.

Carter made two free throws to end a four-minute scoring drought and he added a layup for the Tigers' only field goal during the final 6:57. Sears added four free throws in the final three seconds to trim the lead to 34-27 at halftime.

LSU committed 11 turnovers compared to just eight for the Commodores, helping Vanderbilt hold a 15-2 advantage in points off turnovers.

--Field Level Media

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