LSU got off to the fast start it needed against Texas Southern but defensively LSU seemed to take a step back on Saturday evening.
Texas Southern never went away and LSU needed to go 6-of-6 from the free-throw line down the stretch in order to put the game out of reach and come away an 88-80 victory.
However, the LSU defense did step up over the final eight minutes. LSU held Texas Southern to just three field goals over the final 8:12 as LSU regained the lead and then put the game away.
"One of the things I think was urgency," LSU coach Johnny Jones said.