NC State Eliminates LSU As Tigers Choke
NC State forward BeeJay Anya's hook shot rattled around the rim before dropping through the net with only 0.1 seconds left, assuring the Wolfpack of a 66-65 comeback victory over the LSU Tigers in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday night.
While NC State celebrated, the Tigers had completed a meltdown, losing a 16 point lead and not scoring any points in the final 3:59 seconds of the game.
With a 61-48 lead, things began to unravel for Johnny Jones and his squad, as they failed to make a field goal in the final 9:39. If 12 straight missed field goals wasn't bad enough, LSU missed their final 6 free throws.
Despite the many opportunities, coupled with the Wolfpack consistently missing open shots, LSU nearly escaped in spite of their choke job, but in the end Anya's left hook sealed the deal.
The final 10 minutes of regulation saw LSU do a 180 from their play in the first 30 minutes of regulation. After attacking the rim with authority, LSU got tight, settling for tough layups and poor ball movement.
LSU's season comes to an end with a record of 22-11.
While the final game will sting, Tiger fans will have plenty to look forward to next season, as Jones has recruited number one ranked recruit Ben Simmons, along with highly touted recruit Antonio Blakeney.