Zeigler scores 17 and No. 5 Tennessee overcomes LSU's strong defense in a 65-59 victory

Zeigler scores 17 and No. 5 Tennessee overcomes LSU’s strong defense in a 65-59 victory

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Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler (5) shoots against LSU guard Jordan Sears (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Baton Rouge, La., Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

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Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier (2) goes up for a dunk against LSU guard Cam Carter (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Baton Rouge, La., Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

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Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes reacts during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against LSU in Baton Rouge, La., Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

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Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier (2) shoots a three point basket next to LSU forward Daimion Collins (10) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Baton Rouge, La., Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

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LSU forward Daimion Collins (10) shoots against Tennessee guard Jordan Gainey (11) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Baton Rouge, La., Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

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LSU guard Cam Carter (5) shoots over against Tennessee guard Jahmai Mashack (15) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Baton Rouge, La., Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

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Tennessee guard Jahmai Mashack (15) shoots against LSU during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Baton Rouge, La., Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

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LSU head coach Matt McMahon reacts next to Tennessee guard Jahmai Mashack (15) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Baton Rouge, La., Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

By BRETT MARTEL

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Zakai Zeigler scored 17 points, Felix Okpara added 15 and No. 5 Tennessee defeated LSU 65-59 on Tuesday night.

Chaz Lanier added 14 points and a season-high nine rebounds for the Volunteers (23-5, 10-5 Southeastern Conference), who struggled offensively in the first half but built a 15-point lead on Cade Phillips’ free throw with 3:24 left.

By the time LSU (14-14, 3-12) trimmed Tennessee’s lead down to 64-59, just 11 seconds remained.

Vyctorius Miller scored 17 points and Cam Carter had 12 for LSU, which lost its second straight game against a team ranked in the top five.

Takeaways

Tennessee: The Volunteers have won six of seven, four of those by single digits. Tennessee outscored LSU 32-20 in the paint.

LSU: With hustling perimeter defense and active hands, LSU kept most of the game competitive by holding the Volunteers 4.4% below their usual shooting average of 45.4% and well below their scoring average of 74.7 points this season. The Tigers just couldn’t shoot well enough to pull off the kind of SEC stunner that Georgia had against No. 3 Florida earlier in the evening.

Key moment

After Zeigler hit a driving floater off the glass as he was fouled, he missed his free throw, but Okpara put back the rebound to make it 51-42 with eight minutes left. Tennessee pulled away from there.

Not PARSE.LY: College basketball

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Portland State hosts Montana State after McMahon’s 22-point game

Middle Tennessee visits Jackson and New Mexico State

Key stat

Tennessee outrebounded LSU 44-28 and converted 17 offensive rebounds into 27 second-chance points.

Up next

Both teams play Saturday. Tennessee hosts No. 6 Alabama, while LSU visits No. 24 Mississippi State.

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