Vandy Upsets No. 24 LSU

January 15, 2000 / 4:17 PM EST / CBS/AP

Even with Vanderbilt's leading scorer, Dan Langhi, held to his lowest point total in 22 games, the Commodores found a way to beat another ranked team.

"That's the sign of great team," Langhi said after Vanderbilt beat No. 24 LSU 65-62 on Saturday.

"I'm not going to be able to go out and score every night. A great team has to have somebody step up."

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Langhi came in averaging 23.4 points per game, the best in the Southeastern Conference. His 12 points against LSU marked his lowest output since scoring nine points at South Carolina last January.

Guard James Strong took over, scoring 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting. His driving basket in the closing minute provided the final margin.

LSU's Jermaine Williams missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer as the Tigers (13-3 overall, 1-3 Southeastern Conference) dropped their third consecutive SEC game.

It was Vanderbilt's third victory in 10 days over a ranked team. The Commodores (12-2, 3-1) beat No. 12 Tennessee 76-73 last week and defeated then-No. 6 Florida 87-77 on Jan. 5.

Strong provided the most consistent scoring threat for the Commodores as Langhi struggled against A href="http://www.sportsline.com/u/basketball/college/conferences/SEC/LAV.htm">LSU's defense and point guard Atiba Prater got into early foul trouble.

"I saw a couple of seams and a crack and just used my quickness to get to the basket," Strong said. "A lot of my points came in transition so they weren't able to set up their defense."

The game featured 13 ties and 16 lead changes. The largest lead for either team was five points just before the half when Sam Lekwauwa's layup gave Vanderbilt a 31-26 margin.

Offensive play was choppy with 35 fouls 14 in the first seven minutes of the second half and 42 combined free throws. Vanderbilt was 21-of-27, LSU 9-of-15.

Vanderbilt shot 42 percent from the field to LSU's 47.

"We had a plan about how to guard Langhi in this game and we did that," LSU coach John Brady said. "We could've played certain moments down the stretch a little better. We didn't do it and it cost us a chance to win a road game."

LSU guard Lamont Roland, who scored 13 points, hit a 3-pointer to give LSU a 62-59 lead with 3:29 left in the game. Jabari Smith led the Tigers with 14 points and six rebounds.