This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
New York • Jajuan Johnson hit the winning free throws with 10.8 seconds remaining and Marquette survived a frenetic finish to defeat No. 22 LSU 81-80 on Monday night in the semifinals of the Legends Classic.
Marquette will face the winner of North Carolina State and Arizona State in Tuesday's championship game.
LSU (2-1) freshman Ben Simmons collected 21 points and 20 rebounds in front of 51 NBA scouts and gave the Tigers their only lead at 80-79 with a reverse layup with 21.5 seconds remaining.
But Johnson knocked down the two free throws and Josh Gray missed a 3-pointer as time expired.
Luke Fischer led four players in double figures with 19 points for Marquette (2-2). Henry Ellenson, Duane Wilson and Johnson scored 16 each.
Simmons, a 6-foot-10 forward from Australia, shot 6 of 14 and made 9 of 11 free throws as LSU shot 37 percent from the floor.
Wake Forest 82, No. 13 Indiana 78 • At Lahaina, Hawaii, Bryant Crawford's driving layup with 3.2 seconds to play gave Wake Forest the lead and the Demon Deacons beat Indiana in the opening round of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational. —
Monday's scores
• No. 3 Michigan State 89, Eastern Michigan 65
• No. 4 Iowa State 83, Chattanooga 63
• No. 5 Kansas 123, Chaminade 72
• No. 9 North Carolina 80, Northwestern 69
• Wake Forest 82, No. 13 Indiana 78
• No. 14 California vs. Sam Houston State, late
• No. 19 Vanderbilt 92, St. John's 55
• Marquette 81, No. 22 LSU 80
• No. 23 Xavier 78, Northern Kentucky 66