LSU turned up the heat in the second half to secure an 85-75 victory over Florida State in the SEC/ACC Challenge on Tuesday night. Cam Carter led the charge with an electrifying 26-point performance, while Jordan Sears added 21 points, and Vyctorius Miller chipped in 15 for the Tigers. With the win, LSU improved to 7-1 on the season.
The Tigers’ second-half transformation was the key to their success. After shooting a meager 35% in the first half, LSU found its rhythm, connecting on 57% of their shots in the final 20 minutes. Their three-point shooting also improved significantly, going from 3-of-14 in the first half to 6-of-13 in the second.
LSU faced a significant setback early in the game when Jalen Reed, their leading rebounder and a key offensive contributor, exited with an apparent leg injury just minutes into the contest. Despite the loss, Corey Chest stepped up on the boards, grabbing 10 rebounds to help the Tigers control the paint.
Trailing 35-32 at halftime, LSU came out firing in the second half. Carter quickly tied the game with a three-pointer, sparking a 14-3 run that Miller capped with another triple. LSU took its first double-digit lead at 66-56 after Dji Bailey’s basket on a goaltending call. From there, the Tigers never looked back.
Carter delivered a series of highlight plays, including two dunks in the closing minutes, as LSU maintained control. A late push by Florida State, fueled by back-to-back three-pointers from Jerry Deng, was not enough to close the gap.
The Seminoles, who fell to 7-2, were led by Malique Ewin’s impressive 17-point, 17-rebound double-double. Jamir Watkins added 15 points, Chandler Jackson contributed 12, and Deng finished with 11. However, Florida State struggled with efficiency, shooting just 39% from the field.
The Seminoles held a slim three-point lead at halftime, thanks to Ewin’s 13 first-half points, but couldn’t sustain their momentum against LSU’s second-half surge.
LSU will look to build on this victory when they host FGCU on Sunday. Meanwhile, Florida State will aim to bounce back as they open their ACC schedule against NC State on Saturday.
This win marks a strong start for LSU in the SEC/ACC Challenge and demonstrates the team’s resilience and depth, even in the face of early-game adversity.
