LSU hits free throws late to thrwart Yale comeback
LSU 79 Yale 74
Jacksonville, Fla. — Another big deficit to an elite, Power 5 program in an NCAA tournament game.
Another spirited second-half comeback to get within three points in the final minute.
But ultimately, not quite enough on Thursday afternoon for Yale.
The Bulldogs battled back from an 18-point second-half deficit and were within three after a Jordan Bruner 3-pointer with 8.6 seconds left in their first-round bout with LSU. But the Tigers hit nine of 10 free throws down the stretch and held on for a 79-74 win over the Bulldogs at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.
“I'm just so proud of this group and the fight that we showed,” senior guard Alex Copeland said. “We were in the locker room at halftime, and I think we were a little down for a moment, but we all kind of came together and told each other, ‘Look, we can do this.' We've been down before, and to come out and battle here and put on a show for our fans that were here and watching across the country feels amazing.”
In Yale's prior NCAA tournament game three years ago, it fell behind Duke by 27 but got to within three in the final minute before losing 7164. Coach James Jones could understand the comparison between the two games, but didn't think there were many similarities — except for one thing.
“The thing with that Duke game, it's kind of eerie to think about how hot they were and how cold we were to start,” Jones said. “I think that's probably the one comparison that you can draw. We just couldn't make a shot in that first half.”
Indeed, LSU (27-6) got off to a 9-0 start, and it appeared it would be a long day for Yale. The Bulldogs (22-6) momentarily got hot, hitting three straight 3-pointers at one point to get within two. But those would be the only three 3-pointers (in 17 attempts) Yale would hit in the opening half. The Bulldogs were 10for-34 (29.4 percent) from the floor and trailed 45-29 at the break.
“I thought we got good shots,” said Jones. “Could we have got a little better shots, maybe. But, I thought we got good shots that we normally knock down.”
LSU's lead was up to 18 (49-31) 2.5 minutes into the latter half. But, geared by the play of Copeland and
Jordan Bruner, the Bulldogs battled back. They were within single digits midway through the half, got it to seven with 8:07 left and had chances to get even closer.
But Azar Swain missed a 3-pointer that could have brought it to within four. Miye Oni, the team's leading scorer and Ivy League player of the year, missed a trey that would have brought the Bulldogs to within four with 1:52 left. Swain had a 3-pointer blocked, and Oni missed another 3-pointer with 1:07 left that would have made it a three-point game.
By the time Bruner finally hit a trey that got it to three, it was a little too late. Skylar Mars was fouled and made both free throws to seal the deal with seven seconds left.
Oni, who entered the game averaging 17.6 points per game, scored just five on 2-for-16 shooting (1-for-10 from 3). “I felt like I actually got a lot of good looks,” he said. “I just couldn't knock them down (Thursday).”
Copeland led all scorers with 24 points and Bruner added 16 points and nine rebounds. Swain netted 12 off the bench.
“Yale is a quality team,” LSU interim coach Tony Benford said. “They've won a lot of games, beat some quality opponents. We knew it was going to be a tough game, so I want to give them some credit, too.”
Mays led LSU with 19 points and New Haven native Tremont Waters, who grew up honing his game inside Payne-Whitney Gym, added 15 (13 of them in the first half).