BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Johnny O’Bryant scored 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as LSU defeated Vanderbilt 81-58 in a Southeastern Conference game Saturday night.
O’Bryant had struggled in the past four games — three of which were Tigers losses. O’Bryant averaged ten points and six rebounds in those four games. In LSU’s overtime defeat at Ole Miss last Wednesday, O’Bryant had only six points and five rebounds.
Going against a Commodores team with just seven scholarship players available, O’Bryant was 5-of-10 from the field and 11-of-14 at the foul line. The 22 points were his most since the season-opener at Massachusetts when he scored 25 points. The 12 rebounds were O’Bryant’s second most of the season.
Jordan Mickey had 13 points for the Tigers (11-5, 2-2). Jarell Martin and Andre Stringer scored 11 and 10 points, respectively. Rod Odom led Vanderbilt (9-7, 1-3) with 20 points. Damian Jones had 16 points, while Dai-Jon Parker finished with 10.
O’Bryant was dominant in the opening half for LSU with 13 points and 10 rebounds. He even made his first 3-pointer of the season in the first 20 minutes.
The Tigers took control of the game with a 10-0 run during the middle of the opening half. O’Bryant started the outburst with two foul shots which tied the score at 11-11 with 12:22 remaining before halftime. A basket by Martin on the next possession gave LSU the lead for good.
Mickey made one of two free throws and Tim Quarterman connected on a 3-pointer. A basket by Stringer put the Tigers in front 19-11 with 9:17 remaining in the half.
Vanderbilt came no closer than five points during the rest of the first half. A pair of foul shots by both O’Bryant and Quarterman in the last 90 seconds gave LSU a 35-25 lead at the break.
The Tigers didn’t allow the Commodores to cut into their comfortable halftime advantage. Back-to-back field goals by O’Bryant and Malik Morgan put LSU on top 45-32 with 16:16 remaining in the game. Vanderbilt came no closer than nine points the rest of the way.
