Turnovers, missed free throws plague Aggies in 64-50 loss to LSU

A late scoring drought thwarted a Texas A&M rally as LSU dealt the Aggies a 64-50 Southeastern Conference basketball loss on Saturday in Baton Rouge.

The Aggies (14-14, 8-8) trailed by as much as 13 points in the first half, but were within 55-48 when Savion Flagg drilled a 3-pointer with 5:48 to play.

However, A&M managed just one score the remainder of the game and went more than four minutes between baskets.

Twice the Aggies had a chance to pull closer. But Flagg missed two free throws with 5:09 remaining and Josh Nebo was short on a mid-lane jumper as the shot clock winded down. Following Nebo’s miss, LSU’s Skylar Mays hit a 3-pointer. Then, after an A&M turnover, Emmitt Williams scored on a fast break dunk to secure the victory for LSU (20-9, 11-5).

“They’re really good,” A&M coach Buzz William said of LSU. “All credit to them. Statistically, we’re not great in many offensive categories regardless of opponent. Their size, their length, their athleticism, their talent, their scheme … all of it, for sure, impacted us.”

Flagg, who converted 5 shots from behind the 3-point arc, scored 17 points and Nebo had 11 to lead the Aggies.

Mays scored 24 points and JeVonte Smart added 14 to lead LSU.

A&M continued its recent resurgence from the 3-point arc. The Aggies hit nine treys and shot 39 percent from beyond 3-point range.

However, the Aggies converted just one of 9 free throw attempts. They also committed 13 turnovers compared to LSU’s 4 and surrendered 12 offensive rebounds to LSU.

“Our recipe for it to be a game is very specific.” Williams said. “We need to make more than one free throw. We need to try to get in the bonus both halves as early as we can."

Also, A&M guard Quenton Jackson sat out most of the game with an apparent leg injury sustained in the first half. He finished with five points.