LSU defeats SMU 89-77

SMU Falls Short at LSU, 89-77

In a closely contested matchup, the No. 16 LSU Tigers hosted their non-conference foe, No. 25 SMU Mustangs, at the Smoothie King Center on Monday night. The home team's relentless effort ultimately paid off as they secured an 89-77 victory.

As the game tipped off, it became clear that LSU was determined to make this a competitive outing. The Tigers took control of the tempo early, outscoring SMU 47-42 in the first half. However, SMU refused to back down, battling back to narrow the gap to just three points at halftime.

The second half saw both teams fight for every point, with LSU maintaining their lead throughout. The Mustangs' Boopie Miller led his team's comeback attempt, scoring 10 of his 16 points in the period. Despite Miller's efforts, SMU struggled to find consistent offense, and the Tigers took advantage, extending their lead to as many as 17 points.

Marquel Sutton was instrumental in LSU's victory, recording a double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Dedan Thomas Jr. chipped in with 16 points, 12 assists, and three steals, showcasing his all-around skillset.

SMU's Samet Yigitoglu provided a spark off the bench, scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to lead his team on the glass.

The advanced statistics paint an even more favorable picture for LSU. The Tigers' true shooting percentage of 70.3% was nearly 5 percentage points higher than SMU's, while their effective field goal percentage (eFG%) remained a respectable 68.1%. The Mustangs struggled with their free throw shooting, going just 59% from the line.

LSU's strong performance on the glass – they outrebounded SMU by seven – was particularly telling. With a turnover margin of 18.8%, the Tigers showed that they could control the tempo and limit their opponents' opportunities for easy baskets.

The win keeps LSU (7-2) competitive in non-conference play, while also showcasing the team's ability to compete with top-tier opponents like SMU. As the regular season wears on, the Tigers will need to maintain this level of consistency if they hope to remain a force to be reckoned with in the SEC.

Box Score

* LSU (89)

+ Marquel Sutton: 23 points, 12 rebounds

+ Dedan Thomas Jr.: 16 points, 12 assists

* SMU (77)

+ Boopie Miller: 16 points