Booker and No. 3 Texas rally from poor shooting start to beat No. 5 LSU 65-58

Madison Booker scored 16 points and No. 3 Texas overcame a woeful shooting start to rally for a 65-58 victory over No. 5 LSU on Sunday
Texas forward Madison Booker (35) drives around LSU guard Mikaylah Williams (12) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)

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Texas forward Madison Booker (35) drives around LSU guard Mikaylah Williams (12) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Madison Booker scored 16 points, including four consecutive free throws in the final 24 seconds, and No. 3 Texas overcame a woeful shooting start to rally for a 65-58 victory over No. 5 LSU on Sunday.

Texas was just 7 of 37 shooting in the first half and trailed by as much as 12 in the third quarter. Booker, the Longhorns' leading scorer this season, missed all 11 shot attempts in the first half after averaging nearly 21 points over the previous nine games.

But Texas (26-2, 11-1 SEC) fought through the slow start to take a 50-49 lead on Bryanna Preston's basket with just under 6 minutes to play and never trailed again.

Rori Harmon's consecutive baskets pushed the Texas lead to 61-56 before Booker closed out Texas' 10th straight victory. Texas also earned its third win over a top-10 opponent in a eight days.

Aneesah Morrow had 15 points and 20 rebounds to lead the Tigers (25-2, 10-2).

Takeaways

LSU: The Tigers let the Longhorns back in the game with a run of fouls in the third quarter. Texas scored eight of its last 10 points in the quarter from the free throw line stay within five heading into the fourth.

Texas: Freshman guard Justice Carlton got her first career start and finished with five points and six rebounds in 17 minutes. One of the top recruits in the country, the 6-foot-1 guard averages 6.2 points and had hardly seen the floor over the last few weeks. She had played just eight minutes over the previous six games.

Key moment

After Preston swished a 3-pointer with 1 minute left in the first half, Texas started the third quarter with an 8-0 scoring run.

Key stat

Texas went 21 of 21 from the free throw line.

Up next

Texas plays at Georgia on Feb. 24 while LSU hosts Georgia on Thursday.

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Texas guard Bryanna Preston (1) celebrates scoring against LSU with guard Rori Harmon (3) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)

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LSU guard Aneesah Morrow (24) reaches for the rebound against Texas during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)

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LSU guard Mikaylah Williams (12) shoots over Texas guard Rori Harmon (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)

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Texas head coach Vic Schaefer reacts during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against LSU in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)

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Texas forward Kyla Oldacre (00) defends LSU guard Aneesah Morrow (24) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)

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LSU forward Sa'Myah Smith, center, shoots over Texas forward Madison Booker, left, and guard Jordan Lee during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)

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Texas guard Rori Harmon (3) defends LSU guard Last-Tear Poa (13) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)

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Texas forward Kyla Oldacre, left, defends LSU guard Last-Tear Poa (13) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)

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Texas guard Jordan Lee (7) shoots over LSU guard Aneesah Morrow during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)

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