Reese’s double-double helps No. 3 LSU over Texas A&M 72-66
Feb 4, 2023, 11:24 PM | Updated: Feb 5, 2023, 1:27 pm
Texas A&M forward Janiah Barker, center, protects the ball as LSU guard Alexis Morris, left, reaches in as forward Angel Reese, right, looks on during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
(AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Angel Reese had 26 points and 22 rebounds to help No. 3 LSU outlast Texas A&M for a 72-66 victory Sunday.
Alexis Morris added 22 points before fouling out late to help LSU (23-0, 11-0 Southeastern Conference) remain undefeated ahead of next week’s showdown with top-ranked and undefeated South Carolina. It was Reese’s 23rd consecutive double-double.
The Tigers won their first eight SEC games by an average of 23 points, but needed overtime to get an 82-77 win over Georgia last week before Sunday’s close game with the Aggies.
An 8-0 run by Texas A&M (6-15, 1-10), capped by six consecutive free throws, cut the lead to 66-62 with less than two minutes to go. Reese made two free throws before Kay Kay Green made 1 of 2 free throws on the other end to leave LSU up 68-63 with less than a minute left.
Last-Tear Poa added two free throws for the Tigers to push it to 70-63 seconds later. LSU forced a turnover and Reese added a basket to make it 72-63 with 17 seconds left to secure the victory.
Sahara Jones had 14 points for the Aggies, who lost their third straight.
Tineya Hylton made a 3-pointer for A&M after a turnover by Reese to cut the lead to 3 early in the fourth quarter. But Reese was fouled on the next two possessions and made three free throws to make it 52-45.
Another 3 by the Aggies, this one from Jones, cut it to 4 again. But Ladazhia Williams made an off-balance layup to start a 6-2 spurt that pushed the lead to 58-50 with 5 ½ to go.
Texas A&M used a 5-0 run to cut the lead to 5. But Flau’jae Johnson grabbed a steal and finished with a jump shot as the first of six straight points by the Tigers to make it 66-55 with three minutes left.
The Tigers led by 13 at halftime.
TIP-INS
LSU: Johnson had 11 points … The Tigers made 3 of 9 3-pointers. … LSU made 21 of 26 free throws.
Texas A&M: Hylton had 12 points. … A&M scored 20 points of LSU’s turnovers. … A&M made 6 of 17 3-pointers.
UP NEXT
LSU: Visits top-ranked South Carolina next Sunday.
Texas A&M: Visits Mississippi State next Sunday.
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