East Tennessee St. Buccaneers vs Louisiana State Tigers Match Player Stats On Dec 21, 2022

KJ Williams had 28 points and 12 rebounds and LSU held off visiting East Tennessee State 72-68 Wednesday night in Baton Rouge, La.

Derek Fountain added 11 points for the Tigers (11-1), who won their sixth straight heading into SEC play.

Josh Taylor scored 22, Jalen Haynes had 14 and Jordan King 11 to lead the Buccaneers (4-9), who have lost their last five games by a combined 14 points and never led in this one.

Fountain's three-point play helped LSU grab a 43-29 lead early in the second half.

Brock Jancek made consecutive 3-pointers and Taylor added another 3-pointer as the Buccaneers climbed within 53-48.

East Tennessee State got within five points again before Jalen Reed's basket increased the Tigers' lead to 59-50.

Jamarius Hairston made a 3-pointer that pulled the Buccaneers within three points before Adam Miller's three-point play and Fountain's basket gave LSU a 66-58 advantage.

East Tennessee State got within 68-66 on a duke by Taylor with 1:48 remaining.

Williams answered with a layup, but King made a layup to get the Buccaneers within two again with 54 seconds left.

The Tigers turned the ball over on a shot-clock violation with 22 seconds left, giving East Tennessee State a chance to tie or take the lead.

King missed a jumper and LSU's Trae Hannibal made two free throws with seven seconds remaining.

Williams and Justice Hill each made a 3-pointer as the Tigers took an 8-0 lead.

A 3-pointer by Hill and a basket by Williams increased the lead to 17-6 and the Buccaneers made just three baskets during the first 10 minutes.

Taylor made consecutive baskets to pull East Tennessee State within seven but LSU scored the next four points.

The Tigers increased the lead to 14 points twice before they took a 37-24 lead into halftime.

--Field Level Media