TAMPA, Fla. — Marcus Thornton, the newly crowned Southeastern Conference Play of the Year, led No. 20 Louisiana State over the Cats 67-58, knocking the Cats out of the SEC Tournamet quarterfinals and all but dousing their hopes of reaching a 17th consecutive NCAA Tournament.

In the first half, neither team shot the lights out. In fact, LSU went into the intermission with a five-point lead despite shooting just 30.6 percent from the field. The Tigers established their early lead with strong rebounding (22 in the first half, five more than UK) and strong defense. LSU scored 11 points off nine UK turnovers in the first half.

After halftime, the Tigers warmed up from the field. In the second half’s first 15 minutes, the Tigers hit five big 3-pointers to create space between themselves and the pesky Cats to prevent a close game down the stretch.

UK got within one possession several times, but they never took the lead or even tied the game in the second half. Tasmin Mitchell took over in the second half, scoring 12 points (nine after halftime). Perhaps his biggest bucket was a mid-range jumper from the right wing over a leaping Josh Harrellson. Harrellson’s three-inch advantage couldn’t make up for Mitchell’s high-rising jump shot.

Much like the Tigers played with no concern for UK’s tall hopes of extending its SEC Tournament run — and in essence, UK’s NCAA Tournament hopes.

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