National Basketball Association
Louisiana State 86, Missouri 80
When: 3:00 PM ET, Saturday, March 6, 2021
Where: Mizzou Arena, Columbia, Missouri
Officials:
# Terry Wymer, # Chuck Jones, # Joe Lindsay
Attendance:
3112
By Field Level Media
Cameron Thomas scored 29 points and Trendon Watford added 19 as LSU defeated Missouri 86-80 in the Southeastern Conference regular-season finale for both teams Saturday in Columbia, Mo.
Javonte Smart scored 13 and Darius Days had 12 before fouling out for LSU (16-8 overall, 11-6 SEC), which scored the final six points of the game.
Dru Smith scored 17, Xavier Pinson added 14 and Kobe Brown had 11 points and 10 rebounds to lead Missouri (15-8, 8-8).
The score was tied at halftime and three times early in the second half before Pinson's 3-pointer gave Missouri a 51-48 lead.
LSU got within one point four times before Missouri extended its advantage to 63-57 on a layup by Mitchell Smith midway through the half.
Thomas gave LSU a 69-68 lead with a jumper from the circle before Dru Smith ended Missouri's five-minute field-goal drought by making a 3-pointer for a 73-72 advantage.
Watford's jumper and Thomas' 3-pointer gave LSU a 77-73 lead with 3:25 left.
Missouri got within two, but Thomas answered with two free throws.
A flagrant foul helped Missouri tie with a four-point possession, but Watford hit a jumper and Smart and Thomas each made two free throws to complete the scoring.
Days made a 3-pointer and Thomas made two jumpers in a 7-0 run that gave LSU a 15-12 lead.
Dru Smith's layup ended the run but Smart's 3-pointer started another 9-0 surge that produced a 24-14 lead for LSU.
Brown's layup ended a nearly five-minute field-goal drought for Missouri and pulled it within 24-18.
Watford's layup and Days' 3-pointer gave LSU its biggest lead of the half at 29-18.
Torrence Watson made a jumper and a 3-pointer and Drew Buggs hit a 3-pointer and converted a four-point play as Missouri crept within 35-31.
Another 3-pointer by Watson got Missouri within 37-36 and it closed within one point again before Mitchell Smith's 3-pointer completed a 20-9 run that got Missouri even at 40 at halftime.
--Field Level Media
Top Game Performances
Louisiana State |
|
Missouri |
Cameron Thomas 29 |
Scoring |
Dru Smith 17 |
Trendon Watford 4 |
Assists |
Dru Smith 4 |
Darius Days 9 |
Rebounds |
Kobe Brown 10 |
Cameron Thomas 10 |
Free Throws Made |
Dru Smith 9 |
Josh LeBlanc Sr. 4 |
Steals |
Drew Buggs 2 |
N/A |
Blocks |
Parker Braun 1 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Points |
FG% |
3PM-3PA |
FTM-FTA |
Assists |
Rebounds |
Blocks |
Steals |
Turnovers |
Louisiana State
|
86 |
51.7 |
5-17 |
19-26 |
5 |
35 |
0 |
7 |
11 |
Missouri
|
80 |
37.1 |
9-30 |
25-34 |
12 |
33 |
2 |
6 |
10 |