Xavier Roberson made field goals on consecutive possessions in overtime to help South Alabama defeat LSU 79-75 in a nonconference game Wednesday night.
Two foul shots by Javier Carter gave the Jaguars (2-2) the lead in overtime. After Anthony Hickey answered with two free throws for LSU, Roberson made his two key baskets. Augustine Rubit clinched the victory with his field goal with 24 seconds remaining in overtime.
Rubit was the leading scorer for South Alabama with a season-high 20 points while Roberson finished with a career-high 19 points.
Antione Lundy also had a career-high with 13 points. Carter had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds - both season highs. He matched his career high with five blocks.
Andre Stringer led the Tigers (3-3) with a season-high 20 points. Ralston Turner added 13 points, while Hickey had 12 and Justin Hamilton had 11.
South Alabama made its run in the final eight minutes of the second half. Two free throws by Hamilton put the Tigers on top 61-50 with 8:04 remaining. The Jaguars then scored seven consecutive points on field goals by Carter and Mychal Ammons sandwiched around a three-point play by Roberson.
Stringer ended the South Alabama run with a field goal. However, the Jaguars tied the score at 63 after two baskets by Lundy and one by Carter.
Rubit made a free throw with 3:01 remaining in regulation to give South Alabama its first lead since the opening half at 64-63. After the teams exchanged baskets, Turner sank two foul shots to put LSU ahead 67-66 with 2:13 to play.
Stringer made two foul shots to push the Tigers' advantage out to three points. However, the Jaguars forced overtime after Carter blocked a shot by Hickey.
Freddie Goldstein made one free throw with 18 seconds left. South Alabama maintained possession after the ball went out of bounds off LSU's Johnny O'Bryant after Goldstein's miss on the second free throw. Goldstein then tied the score at 69 with a jumper at the buzzer.
Stringer scored 13 points as LSU built a 41-31 halftime lead. Stringer made five of his six field goal attempts, including 3 of 4 on 3-pointers. Stringer scored two baskets during a 21-6 run which put the Tigers on top 34-24.
Consecutive field goals by Roberson gave South Alabama an 18-13 lead eight minutes into the game. A three-point play and a basket by O'Bryant reduced LSU's deficit to two points at 20-18. The Tigers then took the lead at 23-22 on a field goal by Storm Warren.
Hamilton made a pair of baskets, while Hickey made one. Stringer had a 3-pointer and a layup during this time. The Jaguars pulled within six points, but baskets by Stringer and O'Bryant pushed the Tigers ahead by 10 points at the break.
