BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) Marlon Taylor scored a career-high 30 points in his final home game to lead LSU Tigers to a 94-64 Southeastern Conference victory against Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday.
Taylor, who was averaging fewer than five points per game this season, made 10 of his 17 field goal attempts. In addition, Taylor sank a career-high three 3-pointer. Taylor scored 21 points in the second half when the Tigers (21-10, 12-6) doubled their 15-point halftime lead.
''Today was a special game, the last game in the PMAC,'' Taylor said. ''I used to score 30 (points) a lot. Today, I was just trying to get the win. I was trying to give the team everything I could. I had a good feeling early on.''
Skylar Mays, who also played his last home game, contributed 19 points and six rebounds. Both Javonte Smart and Trendon Watford scored 13 points.
''That was fun,'' LSU coach Will Wade said. ''Marlon was unbelievable. He'll get a bunch of credit for the 30 points, but he did a tremendous job defensively. We made shots. It certainly helps when you make shots. We were able to get our defense set too. When our defense is set, we are not terrible.''
Anthony Edwards was the leading scorer for the Bulldogs (15-16, 5-13) with 17 points. Rayshaun Hammonds was the only other Georgia player in double figures with 12.
LSU built a comfortable 49-34 halftime lead on the strength of its shooting. The Tigers made 64% of their field goals attempts (18-of-28) in the first half. In addition, LSU connected on 6 of its 10 3-point attempts.
The Tigers took control of the game midway through the opening half. A 3-pointer by Mays with 12:09 before halftime broke a tie at 14 and started a 16-5 LSU run. Mays and Aundre Hyatt each scored five points during that stretch.
LSU had another outburst a few minutes later in the first half. After Georgia reduced its deficit to seven points, the Tigers went on a 12-2 run. Mays and Smart knocked down 3s in that span as LSU went ahead 42-25 with 3:20 remaining in the first half.
''We started the game trying to shoot jump shots against a team you've got to drive and cut against,'' Georgia coach Tom Crean said. ''We didn't play physical enough inside. On the other end, we didn't defend the dribble long enough. Then, there were times they hit 3s. Our lack of awareness caught us.''
The Bulldogs came no closer than 13 points in the second half. A field goal by Watford with 6:53 remaining in the game put the Tigers ahead by 20 points for good. The 30-point margin of victory was the largest for LSU in a conference game in 11 seasons. The Tigers beat Ole Miss 83-51 in 2009.
BIG PICTURE
Georgia: The Bulldogs ended the regular season with back-to-back losses against Florida and LSU. Georgia has a losing overall record at 15-16 and finished 13th in the SEC standings.
LSU: The Tigers finished tied with Auburn for second place in the SEC. LSU lost its regular-season game at Auburn and will be the No. 3 seed in the SEC tournament. The Tigers won 21 regular-season games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since they did it three straight years (1979-81).
STAR WATCH
Skylar Mays wrapped up his home career with another solid performance. Mays, who was 7 of 11 from the field and 3 of 5 on 3-pointers, scored 19 points. He eclipsed the 1,600-point total in his career and is the 10th leading scorer in school history. Mays also grabbed six rebounds and made a steal in just 23 minutes. Mays is currently in the top-ten for LSU in free throws made (sixth), steals (sixth) and 3-pointers made (seventh). Only two LSU played in more than Mays' 130 games - Tasmin Mitchell (137) and Garrett Temple (134).
LETDOWN
Georgia certainly needed a strong performance from Anthony Edwards if it was going to upset LSU. Edwards, who was guarded primarily by Marlon Taylor, finished with 17 points. Edwards entered the game averaging 20.5 points per game in the SEC. Edwards missed 16 of his 22 field goal attempts. Moreover, Edwards was just 1 of 12 from 3 - his worst outing of the season from long range.
UP NEXT
Georgia will play in the opening game of the Southeastern Conference tournament in Nashville on Wednesday night.
LSU earned a double-bye in the SEC tournament and will advance to a quarterfinal-round game Friday.
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1st Half
UGA
Bulldogs
34
LSU
Tigers
49
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Jumpball received by LSU
19:41
+2
Emmitt Williams made driving dunk
0-2
19:28
Rayshaun Hammonds missed 3-pt. jump shot
19:26
Offensive rebound by Toumani Camara
19:19
Sahvir Wheeler missed 3-pt. jump shot
19:17
Offensive rebound by Toumani Camara
19:00
+2
Jordan Harris made driving layup
2-2
18:49
+2
Skylar Mays made jump shot
2-4
18:33
Toumani Camara missed jump shot
18:31
Defensive rebound by Trendon Watford
18:23
Skylar Mays missed 3-pt. jump shot
18:21
Defensive rebound by Rayshaun Hammonds
18:18
+2
Toumani Camara made dunk, assist by Sahvir Wheeler
4-4
17:50
Offensive foul on Emmitt Williams
17:50
Turnover on Emmitt Williams
17:37
Anthony Edwards missed 3-pt. jump shot
17:35
Defensive rebound by Trendon Watford
17:21
Skylar Mays missed driving layup
17:19
Defensive rebound by Toumani Camara
17:11
Toumani Camara missed 3-pt. jump shot
17:09
Defensive rebound by Skylar Mays
17:03
+2
Javonte Smart made driving layup
4-6
17:03
Shooting foul on Toumani Camara
17:03
+1
Javonte Smart made free throw
4-7
16:54
Jordan Harris missed 3-pt. jump shot
16:52
Defensive rebound by Marlon Taylor
16:37
Lost ball turnover on Courtese Cooper
16:28
Personal foul on Marlon Taylor
16:25
Lost ball turnover on Toumani Camara, stolen by Skylar Mays
16:08
+2
Courtese Cooper made reverse layup, assist by Javonte Smart
4-9
15:58
Sahvir Wheeler missed 3-pt. jump shot
15:56
Defensive rebound by Javonte Smart
15:49
Javonte Smart missed floating jump shot
15:47
Defensive rebound by Toumani Camara
15:20
+2
Rayshaun Hammonds made jump shot
6-9
15:06
Lost ball turnover on Trendon Watford, stolen by Anthony Edwards
15:00
+2
Jordan Harris made layup
8-9
14:49
+2
Skylar Mays made dunk
8-11
14:37
Anthony Edwards missed jump shot
14:35
Defensive rebound by Skylar Mays
14:27
Trendon Watford missed jump shot
14:25
Defensive rebound by Rayshaun Hammonds
14:23
Personal foul on Javonte Smart
14:23
Commercial timeout called
14:11
Anthony Edwards missed driving layup
14:09
Offensive rebound by Christian Brown
14:04
+2
Christian Brown made dunk
10-11
13:52
Personal foul on Rayshaun Hammonds
13:41
Lost ball turnover on Marlon Taylor, stolen by Christian Brown
13:22
Anthony Edwards missed driving layup
13:20
Offensive rebound by Rayshaun Hammonds
13:19
+2
Rayshaun Hammonds made dunk
12-11
13:02
Personal foul on Sahvir Wheeler
12:56
+3
Marlon Taylor made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Javonte Smart
12-14
12:31
Christian Brown missed layup, blocked by Aundre Hyatt
12:29
Offensive rebound by Tye Fagan
12:24
+2
Tye Fagan made layup, assist by Rayshaun Hammonds
14-14
12:11
+3
Skylar Mays made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Emmitt Williams
14-17
11:50
Offensive foul on Christian Brown
11:50
Turnover on Christian Brown
11:50
Commercial timeout called
11:38
+3
Aundre Hyatt made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Emmitt Williams
14-20
11:19
+3
Anthony Edwards made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Donnell Gresham Jr.
17-20
11:07
Javonte Smart missed floating jump shot
11:05
Defensive rebound by Tye Fagan
10:37
Anthony Edwards missed 3-pt. jump shot
10:35
Defensive rebound by Javonte Smart
10:26
+2
Skylar Mays made driving layup
17-22
9:58
Lost ball turnover on Anthony Edwards
9:35
Lost ball turnover on Marshall Graves, stolen by Rayshaun Hammonds
9:31
Traveling violation turnover on Jordan Harris
9:15
+2
Trendon Watford made layup, assist by Javonte Smart
17-24
9:01
+2
Anthony Edwards made dunk, assist by Toumani Camara
19-24
8:26
+2
Javonte Smart made driving layup
19-26
8:06
Anthony Edwards missed jump shot, blocked by Trendon Watford
8:04
Defensive rebound by Javonte Smart
8:01
+2
Aundre Hyatt made floating jump shot
19-28
7:41
Bad pass turnover on Rayshaun Hammonds, stolen by Trendon Watford
7:36
+2
Marlon Taylor made alley-oop shot, assist by Javonte Smart
19-30
7:36
30-second timeout called
7:36
Commercial timeout called
7:26
+2
Tye Fagan made floating jump shot
21-30
6:59
Trendon Watford missed 3-pt. jump shot
6:57
Defensive rebound by Jordan Harris
6:38
Sahvir Wheeler missed layup
6:36
Offensive rebound by Sahvir Wheeler
6:27
Toumani Camara missed jump shot
6:25
Defensive rebound by Trendon Watford
6:21
Trendon Watford missed layup
6:19
Defensive rebound by Tye Fagan
6:02
+2
Jordan Harris made reverse layup, assist by Sahvir Wheeler
23-30
5:41
+2
Emmitt Williams made layup, assist by Javonte Smart
23-32
5:32
Jordan Harris missed 3-pt. jump shot
5:30
Defensive rebound by Emmitt Williams
5:30
+2
Marshall Graves made layup
23-34
4:55
Lost ball turnover on Toumani Camara, stolen by Emmitt Williams
4:49
Personal foul on Jordan Harris
4:44
+3
Skylar Mays made 3-pt. jump shot
23-37
4:31
Anthony Edwards missed 3-pt. jump shot
4:29
Defensive rebound by Javonte Smart
4:10
Shooting foul on Rodney Howard
4:10
+1
Marlon Taylor made 1st of 2 free throws
23-38
4:10
+1
Marlon Taylor made 2nd of 2 free throws
23-39
3:59
Sahvir Wheeler missed jump shot
3:57
Defensive rebound by Skylar Mays
3:53
Backcourt turnover on Skylar Mays
3:53
Commercial timeout called
3:42
Shooting foul on Aundre Hyatt
3:42
+1
Rayshaun Hammonds made 1st of 2 free throws
24-39
3:42
+1
Rayshaun Hammonds made 2nd of 2 free throws
25-39
3:23
+3
Javonte Smart made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Trendon Watford
25-42
2:59
+3
Sahvir Wheeler made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Rayshaun Hammonds
28-42
2:45
Marlon Taylor missed 3-pt. jump shot
2:43
Defensive rebound by Rodney Howard
2:35
Shooting foul on Emmitt Williams
2:35
+1
Rayshaun Hammonds made 1st of 2 free throws
29-42
2:35
+1
Rayshaun Hammonds made 2nd of 2 free throws
30-42
2:06
Javonte Smart missed jump shot
2:04
Offensive rebound by Trendon Watford
2:04
Shot clock violation turnover on LSU
1:53
Sahvir Wheeler missed driving layup
1:51
Offensive rebound by Rodney Howard
1:47
+2
Rodney Howard made dunk
32-42
1:39
+3
Skylar Mays made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Javonte Smart
32-45
1:13
+2
Anthony Edwards made driving layup
34-45
55.0
Shooting foul on Rayshaun Hammonds
55.0
+1
Marlon Taylor made 1st of 3 free throws
34-46
55.0
Marlon Taylor missed 2nd of 3 free throws
55.0
+1
Marlon Taylor made 3rd of 3 free throws
34-47
34.0
Rayshaun Hammonds missed layup
32.0
Defensive rebound by Trendon Watford
33.0
Personal foul on Rodney Howard
33.0
+1
Trendon Watford made 1st of 2 free throws
34-48
33.0
+1
Trendon Watford made 2nd of 2 free throws
34-49
14.0
Bad pass turnover on Tye Fagan, stolen by Marlon Taylor
7.0
30-second timeout called
3.0
Marshall Graves missed jump shot
1.0
Defensive rebound by Rayshaun Hammonds
0.0
End of period
2nd Half
UGA
Bulldogs
30
LSU
Tigers
45
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:49
+2
Rayshaun Hammonds made jump shot
36-49
19:30
Marlon Taylor missed 3-pt. jump shot
19:28
Defensive rebound by Rayshaun Hammonds
19:19
Anthony Edwards missed 3-pt. jump shot
19:17
Defensive rebound by LSU
19:03
Personal foul on Jordan Harris
18:47
+2
Marlon Taylor made layup
36-51
18:37
Jordan Harris missed 3-pt. jump shot
18:35
Offensive rebound by Rayshaun Hammonds
18:35
Personal foul on Aundre Hyatt
18:27
Anthony Edwards missed 3-pt. jump shot
18:25
Offensive rebound by Toumani Camara
18:20
Lost ball turnover on Toumani Camara, stolen by Aundre Hyatt
18:02
Traveling violation turnover on Aundre Hyatt
17:55
Shooting foul on Aundre Hyatt
17:55
+1
Sahvir Wheeler made 1st of 2 free throws
37-51
17:55
+1
Sahvir Wheeler made 2nd of 2 free throws
38-51
17:36
Shooting foul on Rayshaun Hammonds
17:36
+1
Trendon Watford made 1st of 2 free throws
38-52
17:36
Trendon Watford missed 2nd of 2 free throws
17:36
Defensive rebound by Rayshaun Hammonds
17:31
Anthony Edwards missed 3-pt. jump shot
17:29
Defensive rebound by Trendon Watford
17:27
Personal foul on Toumani Camara
17:04
Offensive foul on Trendon Watford
17:04
Turnover on Trendon Watford
16:50
Shooting foul on Emmitt Williams
16:50
+1
Jordan Harris made 1st of 2 free throws
39-52
16:50
Jordan Harris missed 2nd of 2 free throws
16:50
Defensive rebound by Emmitt Williams
16:50
Personal foul on Toumani Camara
16:37
Personal foul on Toumani Camara
16:34
Shooting foul on Rayshaun Hammonds
16:26
+2
Trendon Watford made finger-roll layup, assist by Emmitt Williams
39-54
16:16
+2
Christian Brown made layup, assist by Jordan Harris
41-54
16:04
+3
Emmitt Williams made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Javonte Smart
41-57
15:56
Sahvir Wheeler missed driving layup
15:54
Defensive rebound by Skylar Mays
15:49
+2
Marlon Taylor made dunk, assist by Trendon Watford
41-59
15:48
30-second timeout called
15:48
Commercial timeout called
15:31
Anthony Edwards missed 3-pt. jump shot
15:29
Defensive rebound by Javonte Smart
15:22
Marlon Taylor missed layup
15:20
Offensive rebound by Emmitt Williams
15:16
Emmitt Williams missed dunk
15:16
Offensive rebound by Marlon Taylor
15:16
+2
Marlon Taylor made dunk
41-61
14:57
+2
Anthony Edwards made driving layup
43-61
14:48
Marlon Taylor missed driving layup, blocked by Rodney Howard
14:46
Defensive rebound by Tye Fagan
14:25
Rodney Howard missed layup
14:23
Defensive rebound by Emmitt Williams
14:16
Bad pass turnover on Javonte Smart, stolen by Christian Brown
14:10
Tye Fagan missed 3-pt. jump shot
14:08
Defensive rebound by Skylar Mays
13:47
+3
Marlon Taylor made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Javonte Smart
43-64
13:34
Bad pass turnover on Donnell Gresham Jr.
13:45
Commercial timeout called
13:34
Bad pass turnover on Donnell Gresham Jr.
13:12
+2
Trendon Watford made reverse layup, assist by Emmitt Williams
43-66
12:55
Shooting foul on Trendon Watford
12:55
+1
Anthony Edwards made 1st of 2 free throws
44-66
12:55
+1
Anthony Edwards made 2nd of 2 free throws
45-66
12:39
Bad pass turnover on Javonte Smart, stolen by Anthony Edwards
12:34
+2
Tye Fagan made layup, assist by Anthony Edwards
47-66
12:23
Trendon Watford missed layup
12:21
Defensive rebound by Donnell Gresham Jr.
12:15
+2
Tye Fagan made layup
49-66
12:02
Marlon Taylor missed layup
12:00
Offensive rebound by Marlon Taylor
12:00
Shooting foul on Christian Brown
12:00
Commercial timeout called
12:00
+1
Marlon Taylor made 1st of 2 free throws
49-67
12:00
Marlon Taylor missed 2nd of 2 free throws
12:00
Defensive rebound by Tye Fagan
11:49
Anthony Edwards missed jump shot
11:47
Defensive rebound by Trendon Watford
11:22
Marlon Taylor missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:20
Offensive rebound by Marlon Taylor
11:16
Javonte Smart missed floating jump shot
11:14
Defensive rebound by Tye Fagan
11:07
Tye Fagan missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:05
Offensive rebound by Donnell Gresham Jr.
11:05
Personal foul on Skylar Mays
11:03
Anthony Edwards missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:01
Defensive rebound by LSU
10:49
Javonte Smart missed jump shot
10:47
Defensive rebound by Rodney Howard
10:42
Bad pass turnover on Rodney Howard, stolen by Javonte Smart
10:32
Personal foul on Donnell Gresham Jr.
10:32
+1
Skylar Mays made 1st of 2 free throws
49-68
10:32
+1
Skylar Mays made 2nd of 2 free throws
49-69
10:17
+3
Christian Brown made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Jordan Harris
52-69
10:00
+2
Trendon Watford made layup, assist by Emmitt Williams
52-71
9:39
Anthony Edwards missed 3-pt. jump shot
9:37
Offensive rebound by Christian Brown
9:22
Rayshaun Hammonds missed jump shot
9:20
Defensive rebound by Trendon Watford
8:55
+3
Javonte Smart made 3-pt. jump shot
52-74
8:43
Bad pass turnover on Sahvir Wheeler
8:29
Personal foul on Sahvir Wheeler
8:29
Emmitt Williams missed free throw
8:29
Defensive rebound by Anthony Edwards
8:16
+2
Sahvir Wheeler made layup
54-74
7:53
Skylar Mays missed 3-pt. jump shot
7:51
Defensive rebound by Christian Brown
7:40
Rayshaun Hammonds missed driving layup, blocked by Aundre Hyatt
7:38
Offensive rebound by Georgia
7:38
Commercial timeout called
7:22
+2
Anthony Edwards made driving layup
56-74
6:54
+2
Trendon Watford made layup, assist by Javonte Smart
56-76
6:32
Sahvir Wheeler missed 3-pt. jump shot
6:30
Defensive rebound by Javonte Smart
6:03
Trendon Watford missed running Jump Shot
6:01
Defensive rebound by Anthony Edwards
5:53
Anthony Edwards missed 3-pt. jump shot
5:51
Defensive rebound by Trendon Watford
5:46
Skylar Mays missed layup
5:44
Offensive rebound by Marlon Taylor
5:41
+2
Marlon Taylor made dunk
56-78
5:34
Jordan Harris missed 3-pt. jump shot
5:32
Defensive rebound by Marlon Taylor
5:27
Shooting foul on Jordan Harris
5:27
+1
Marlon Taylor made 1st of 2 free throws
56-79
5:27
+1
Marlon Taylor made 2nd of 2 free throws
56-80
5:16
Rayshaun Hammonds missed layup
5:14
Offensive rebound by Sahvir Wheeler
5:09
+2
Sahvir Wheeler made floating jump shot
58-80
4:57
Offensive foul on Javonte Smart
4:57
Turnover on Javonte Smart
4:50
Mike Peake missed jump shot
4:48
Defensive rebound by Trendon Watford
4:30
+3
Marlon Taylor made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Javonte Smart
58-83
4:12
Personal foul on Marlon Taylor
4:12
Anthony Edwards missed free throw
4:12
Defensive rebound by Trendon Watford
4:02
Shooting foul on Anthony Edwards
4:02
+1
Javonte Smart made 1st of 2 free throws
58-84
4:02
+1
Javonte Smart made 2nd of 2 free throws
58-85
3:39
Sahvir Wheeler missed 3-pt. jump shot
3:37
Defensive rebound by Skylar Mays
3:14
+2
Marlon Taylor made driving layup
58-87
3:05
Anthony Edwards missed 3-pt. jump shot
3:03
Defensive rebound by Marlon Taylor
2:59
+2
Marlon Taylor made alley-oop shot, assist by Trendon Watford
58-89
2:47
Rayshaun Hammonds missed turnaround jump shot
2:59
Commercial timeout called
2:47
Rayshaun Hammonds missed turnaround jump shot
2:45
Offensive rebound by Donnell Gresham Jr.
2:40
Donnell Gresham Jr. missed dunk
2:38
Defensive rebound by Javonte Smart
2:34
Marlon Taylor missed 3-pt. jump shot
2:32
Defensive rebound by Anthony Edwards
2:19
Rayshaun Hammonds missed turnaround jump shot
2:17
Defensive rebound by Emmitt Williams
2:09
Lost ball turnover on Marlon Taylor, stolen by Donnell Gresham Jr.
2:04
+2
Rayshaun Hammonds made layup
60-89
1:45
+2
Skylar Mays made layup
60-91
1:37
+2
Anthony Edwards made dunk
62-91
1:07
Defensive rebound by Jaxon Etter
1:09
Javonte Smart missed 3-pt. jump shot
1:07
Defensive rebound by Jaxon Etter
59.0
Personal foul on Marlon Taylor
59.0
Anthony Edwards missed free throw
59.0
Defensive rebound by Aundre Hyatt
45.0
+3
Marshall Graves made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by James Bishop