Loyola Makes Big Run at LSU but Stumbles at the End, 122-114 : College basketball: Lions play their best game of the year against 10th-ranked Tigers. Lowery scores 40 points again.

BATON ROUGE, La. —  Louisiana State students chanted “Tiger bait, tiger bait,” as Loyola Marymount took the floor here Thursday, and for most of the game the Lions baited the Tigers exceedingly well.

Playing their best game of the season, the Lions played on even terms with 10th-ranked LSU, eventually falling, 122-114, before a crowd of 13,044 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

It was Loyola’s third loss in a row against a top 20 team, but after defeats at UCLA and Oklahoma totaling 111 points, the Lions set the pace in this game and avoided the all-out Big Shaq Attack they feared.

Shaquille O’Neal, LSU’s dominating center, finished with 29 points and 14 rebounds, most of that in the final eight minutes as the Tigers pulled away.

Loyola’s Terrell Lowery scored 40 points for the second game in a row and the fourth time in eight games. He and guard Craig Holt (17 points) combined to hit 11 of 23 three-point baskets, part of the formula for Loyola’s good showing.

“I was very pleased with our effort,” Lion Coach Jay Hillock said. “Our style hurt them a little bit. If we can take a couple more steps we can do what I want to do, which is be a factor in our conference.”

LSU Coach Dale Brown said it was “the best I’ve seen Loyola play all year long, by far. They dictated most of the game with their up-beat style. Lowery’s performance in the first half was brilliant.”

The teams were tied, 57-57, at halftime--Lowery had 25--and LSU led by only three points before putting together a decisive 12-3 run to build a 99-87 lead. Loyola never got closer then seven after that. O’Neal, who had only eight points at halftime, had a series of monstrous dunks down the stretch and the Lions finally wilted against the taller home team.

“We expected to tire ‘em out,” Lowery said. “They happened to hold up and push through. The bigger bodies took a toll. I think they outmanned us a little at the end.”

Forward Vernel Singleton had a career-high 26 points and 12 rebounds for LSU (6-1) as the Tigers controlled the boards, 48-31. Defensive specialist Shawn Griggs had 20 points, eight assists and a Southeastern Conference record eight steals.

Center Richard Petruska, in his best performance, had 18 points and eight rebounds for the Lions (2-6) and made eight of 12 shots as Loyola shot 55%. Lowery added 14 assists.

The Lions continue their road swing against highly rated teams with a game Saturday at Georgia Tech. For a change, they go in with some confidence despite Thursday’s loss.

“This is a big-time motivation builder,” Lowery said. “We had taken a couple of beatings. It’s evident we hadn’t played up to our potential. We were just waiting for a game like this, for it to come together. I’m looking forward to (playing Georgia Tech’s) Kenny Anderson.”