Australian basketball prodigy Ben Simmons has again posted strong numbers for his US college team, but he was unable to lead Louisiana State University to victory.
The 19-year-old Simmons scored 21 points and collected 12 rebounds to go with two blocks and an assist as LSU lost 77-71 to Wake Forest at home in Baton Rouge on Wednesday (AEDT).
Expected to be drafted to the NBA next year as the No.1 pick, Simmons has had a mixed start to his likely one and only college basketball season while usually posting impressive stats for a team not rated in the top echelon.
Simmons went into the game against the now 9-3 Wake Forrest averaging 19 points and 13 rebounds a game, but with defeat, LSU slipped to a 7-5 record.
He had four turnovers in the first half against Wake Forest, and five for the game, and his single highlight of the opening stanza was an alley-oop dunk in the final three minutes - his only registered field goal attempt of the half.
His second period was more promising, yielding 15 points and two blocks.
Getting plenty of defensive attention, Simmons finished the game 5-8 from the field and 11-16 from the free-throw line, as he led LSU in scoring and rebounds.
But the side's record of 7-5 is underwhelming, especially given the hype surrounding Simmons' arrival as the No.1 freshman basketball prospect in the country.
LSU now move to Southeastern Conference play and travel to Nashville to play Vanderbilt on January 2 with critics giving them little chance of progressing to the season's big show - the NCAA tournament - without a dramatic improvement.
Simmons' five turnovers were among 17 committed by LSU in the game.
"We just played bad," Simmons said. "We didn't have a good game.
"Turnovers, we let them rebound I think (the players) lost the game. It was who wanted it more. That's what it came down to."
LSU coach Johnny Jones was of similar mind.
"We tried to make too many (home run) plays instead of making good, crisp passes or passes that were going to lead to the next basket," Jones said.
"We have to make sure that we get out of that habit in trying to make big plays."
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