Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
LSU
LSU Downs Oklahoma State, 63-53
December 30, 1999 | Cowboy Basketball
Dec. 30, 1999
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Lamont Roland scored a career-high 22 points, including nine of LSU's final 12 in the game, and the Tigers beat No. 11 Oklahoma State 63-53 Thursday night in a matchup of unbeaten teams in the Sugar Bowl Classic.
"Coach just told me to keep shooting the ball and I kept shooting it," said Roland, who was 5-of-7 from 3-point range. "We were actually working on playing good defense. That's why it was such a low-scoring game. But it was fun to hit some baskets too."
Roland had 17 points in the second half, matching the total of his teammates over the final 20 minutes.
After six straight losing seasons, the Tigers (12-0) are off to their best start since the 1985-86 season when they won 14 straight on the way to the Final Four.
"It's another step in trying to put this program back to where it once was," LSU coach John Brady said.
It was the second time in the last three seasons that Oklahoma State (10-1) had opened the season with 10 straight wins.
Jabari Smith's basket with 15:32 to play gave LSU a 39-29 lead. The Tigers were up 44-33 with 14:03 left when Oklahoma State went on a 10-0 run over the next four minutes. It was capped when Brian Montonati went 1-for-2 from the foul line, Oklahoma State's only free throws of the game.
"When OSU cut it to one, with the game on the line, we executed, and I wasn't sure that we would," Brady said. "My guys showed me more poise than I thought they were capable of."
Over the final 6:16, Oklahoma State scored twice on goaltending calls, but did not make a field goal until Glendon Alexander's 3-pointer with 1:10 left cut LSU's lead to 60-53. Roland and Stromile Swift then made free throws for LSU to close out the scoring.
"Five points in the last 12 minutes of the second half, stagnant half-court offense. It wasn't pretty out there," Oklahoma State coach Eddie Sutton said. "I think the 4 1/2 days we had off for Christmas hurt us."
Swift had 14 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots for LSU, while Smith had 11 rebounds as the Tigers outrebounded Oklahoma State 45-29.
Joe Adkins led the Cowboys with 14 points and Montonati had 13.
Adkins' third straight 3-pointer tied the game 20-20, but the Cowboys scored only two more points over the final 7:25 of the half as LSU led 29-22 at halftime.
