Top scorer Cam Carter scored nine straight points for LSU in a span of 1:26 as the Tigers snapped a season-worst seven-game losing streak, shocking host Oklahoma 82-79 on Saturday night in Norman, Okla.
Carter tallied a game-high 29 points, including 24 in the second half. With the Tigers (13-12, 2-10 Southeastern Conference) trailing 75-72 inside the final two minutes, Carter netted nine consecutive points for his team for an 81-79 lead with 8 seconds left.
It was the squad’s first win since beating Arkansas on Jan. 14.
Carter went 10 of 17, including 5 of 10 from 3-point range. Daimion Collins netted a career-high 22 points and added four blocks before fouling out. Dji Bailey added 13 points, five rebounds and three assists as LSU overcame a 13-point second-half deficit.
Top rebounder Corey Chest, averaging 7.3 per game, did not play because of back spasms.
An 8 1/2-point favorite, Oklahoma (16-9, 3-9) saw Jeremiah Fears net 15 points, while Jalon Moore totaled 14 points and seven rebounds. Duke Miles scored 12.
With victories over probable NCAA Tournament-bound Michigan, Arizona and Louisville, the Sooners had to take care of the business of facing LSU, 15th in the conference. Oklahoma outshot LSU to lead 18-10 on a trey from Fears from the top with 11:14 left in the first half.
After an 8-0 run by the home side, LSU cut the disadvantage to 21-17 at 8:38 on Carter’s layup and soon snipped it to 27-26 on a putback by Collins at 5:30.
Ahead 35-29 at halftime, the Sooners came out of the locker room strong and quickly extended their largest lead to 13 on two free throws by Miles at 16:22.
With less than 12 minutes left, the 6-foot-9 Collins kept his LSU squad alive by swishing a trey from the top of the key and hit another jumper to make it 50-46.
Carter cut the deficit to 57-55 on a 4-point play at 8:25 as part of a 30-13 run. LSU eventually led 62-59, its first since 3-0.
Miles’ three-point play put his team up 72-68 with 3:44 left, and Carter made a second four-point play as part of his late heroics.
–Field Level Media
