Hannibal scores 24 points to lead LSU over Missouri 84-80, Tigers finish 0-18 in SEC
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Trae Hannibal scored 24 points to lead five in double figures and LSU beat Missouri 84-80 on Saturday night.
Missouri (8-23, 0-18) ends its regular season winless in the Southeastern Conference. The Tigers have lost 21 of 22 games since beating Wichita State 82-72 on Dec. 3.
Tyrell Ward added 14 points for LSU (17-14, 9-9), which shot 50% (16 of 32) from the field and made 19 of 25 free throws in the second half. Hunter Dean chipped in with 12 points for the Tigers. Mike Williams III and Jordan Wright scored 10 apiece.
Sean East II scored 26 points to lead Missouri. Noah Carter made four 3-pointers and scored 18 points. Tamar Bates added 13 points.
East scored 11 points to help Missouri build a 35-29 halftime advantage. LSU pulled away on a 26-4 run for a 64-49 lead with about eight minutes left. Trent Pierce's 3-pointer cut the Tigers' deficit to 76-67 with 58 seconds to go. Carter's 3 made it 81-78 with six seconds left before LSU sealed it at the free-throw line.
LSU led 74-53 with 4:40 remaining.
Missouri will play Georgia in a first-round game of the SEC Tournament on Wednesday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
LSU faces Mississippi State in the tournament on Thursday.
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