LSU rallies to defeat Central Michigan 59-55

BATON ROUGE, La. – Andre Stringer made four foul shots in the final minute to lead LSU to a 59-55 victory over Central Michigan on Saturday night.

Following a steal by Malcolm White, Stringer made two free throws with 37 seconds remaining to give the Tigers (6-2) a 55-53 lead. The Chippewas (2-6) lost their chance to tie when Jaylin Thomas was called for traveling with 14 seconds to play.

Stringer then made two more foul shots. After Derek Jackson made a layup for Central Michigan, Chris Bass clinched the victory by sinking two free throws with 2 seconds left.

White led LSU with 12 points. No other LSU player scored more than nine points.

Thomas led Central Michigan with 21 points. Trey Zeigler added 18 points for the Chippewas.

LSU, which trailed by 11 points early in the second half, pulled within two points on a breakaway layup by Bass with 4:26 remaining. After Central Michigan's William McClure made two free throws, the Tigers tied the score on two foul shots by Aaron Dotson and a field goal by Storm Warren.

The Chippewas regained the lead on Thomas' two free throws. But, the Tigers evened the score on two foul shots by Stringer. Warren then knocked an Amir Rashid pass away to give the ball back to LSU with 49 seconds remaining.

LSU scored 11 consecutive points in the final 4-plus minutes to take a lead into halftime.

The Tigers had scored just 12 points before Dotson's basket with 4:03 remaining started the outburst. A three-point play by Eddie Ludwig and a foul shot by White tied the score at 18.

Another basket by Dotson and a 3-pointer by Ralston Turner put LSU ahead 23-18. Central Michigan got a 3-pointer from Thomas with 4 seconds remaining to trail 23-21 at halftime.

The Chippewas made just six first-half field goals. Both teams committed 10 turnovers in the opening half.

Central Michigan used defense to seize control after halftime.

The Tigers missed four field goal attempts and committed five turnovers in the first 6 minutes. LSU scored just two points on free throws by White and Dotson in that stretch.

Meanwhile, Thomas and Zeigler combined for 15 points. Thomas tied the score at 23 with two free throws. Then, Thomas put the Chippewas on top with a field goal. Zeigler scored nine of the next 11 Central Michigan points as the Tigers fell behind 36-25.

LSU finally got a basket when White made a short jumper with 13:26 remaining in the game.

White's field goal started a 13-5 run which pulled the Tigers within three points.

A layup by Garrett Green cut the lead to 41-38 with 7:59 to go.

The Chippewas rebuilt their advantage to 47-40. Zeigler and Andre Coimbra each made a basket, while both Rashid and Jackson made one of two foul shots.

The Tigers came right back to reduce their deficit to 49-47. Turner made a 3-pointer, Dotson sank two free throws and Bass made a layup.