Huge second half carries No. 16 Alabama past LSU 109-92

Mark Sears scored 23 points and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. scored 21 points with 10 rebounds as No. 16 Alabama went on the road to defeat LSU 109-92 on Saturday in Baton Rouge, La.

Nick Pringle scored 17 points, Rylan Griffen added 16 and Aaron Estrada had 15 for the Crimson Tide (17-7, 9-2 SEC) as all five starters scored in double figures. Alabama made 18 3-pointers compared to seven for LSU.

Will Baker scored 24 points, Jalen Cook had 20 and Tyrell Ward added 15 for the Tigers (12-11, 4-6), who also lost on the road to Alabama 109-88 on Jan. 27 at Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Griffen made a 3-pointer to start the second-half scoring and push Alabama's lead to 52-46.

LSU closed within two points at 53-51 before Griffen made a 3-pointer during an 11-0 run that increased the Crimson Tide's lead to 62-51.

The Tide pushed the advantage to as many as 12 points before Cook scored five points to help the Tigers get within 68-65 with 12:29 remaining.

Wrightsell answered with a 3-pointer for Alabama, but LSU scored the next six points to pull even at 71-all with 10:14 on the clock.

Sears made a free throw but Cook answered with a jumper that gave the Tigers their only leadoff the half at 73-72 with 9:32 remaining.

Estrada converted a three-point play and made a 3-pointer and Wrightsell added a 3-pointer as Alabama opened an 85-75 lead with 7:00 left. The margin grew to as many as 19 points down the stretch as Alabama scored 60 second-half points.

The lead changed hands 13 times and the score was tied three times before Griffen made a 3-pointer that gave the Tide a 31-26 lead midway through the first half.

Trae Hannibal made a layup for the Tigers before Pringle converted a three-point play and Sears made a 3-pointer to give Alabama a 40-32 lead.

LSU climbed within three points before the Tide increased the lead to 47-37 with 4:14 left in the half as Wrightsell made three free throws.

Ward made a jumper and Mike Williams III added a 3-pointer to start a 9-2 LSU run that trimmed Alabama's lead to 49-46 at halftime.