LSU 81, Auburn 80
1/30/2008 10:00 PM
By JOHN ZENOR
AP Sports Writer
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AUBURN, Ala. (AP) -Marcus Thornton hit a 3-pointer with 3.8 seconds left and scored a career-high 38 points to lead LSU to its first Southeastern Conference victory, an 81-80 win over Auburn Wednesday night.
Thornton drained his eighth 3 of the game over Auburn's Lucas Hargrove from the left wing for LSU (8-12, 1-5) for the lead. Quan Prowell then stepped on the baseline trying to throw the ball inbounds for Auburn (12-7, 2-4). That turnover forced Auburn to foul Anthony Randolph, who missed his free throw attempt.
Frank Tolbert came down with the rebound for Auburn and dribbled across midcourt but his desperation shot at the buzzer fell well short.
The win snapped LSU's 15-game road losing streak dating back to a victory over Oregon State in December 2006.
Anthony Randolph added 21 points for LSU and Terry Martin had 11. Thornton made 8-of-15 3-pointers.
Auburn had gotten its first league win at LSU two weeks earlier. Thornton had a career-high 27 in that game and was within three points of that by halftime in the rematch for his fifth consecutive 20-point game.
Auburn was down by as many as five points late, but Prowell and Reed hit back-to-back 3s for an 80-75 lead with 1:20 to play. Reed's 3 was his first basket of the second half.
Thornton drilled another 3 to keep LSU alive but missed his next attempt. LSU got the ball back off a jump ball with 30 seconds left. Chris Johnson took the inbounds pass straight to the basket but his shot was blocked by Lucas Hargrove.
LSU got another shot when Quantez Robertson missed his free throw attempt with 21 seconds to play.
Then, Thornton struck again. He had scored LSU's first 15 points of the game on five long-range shots after Auburn opened with a 10-0 run.
Prowell matched his career-high with 26 points for Auburn to lead five scorers in double figures. Rasheem Barrett had 15 points, Reed 14, Tolbert 12 and Lucas Hargrove 11.
LSU's Chris Johnson played in his first game since breaking his right hand against Tulane on Jan. 2 and had six points and two blocked shots in 24 minutes.
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