The LSU Tigers men’s basketball team fell to the Kentucky Wildcats 75-74 on Wednesday night inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The loss keeps LSU winless in SEC play after the heartbreaking defeat.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
LSU got off to a quick start in this one, scoring the game’s first six points, all of which coming from Marquel Sutton. He would score the first seven for the Tigers and was into double-figures early in this game. His early scoring allowed LSU to control things with a 23-11 lead at the six minutes remaining mark of the first half.
Down the stretch of the half, LSU was able to keep Kentucky struggling from the field. The Wildcats shot just 27 percent in the first 20 minutes. That allowed the LSU lead to reach a game-high 16 at the break. Sutton had 14 at that point.
Otega Oweh and the Wildcats would cut into the lead slowly but surely in the second half. While LSU had it at 18 at one point, it was down to seven with 15 minutes left.
The lead yo-yoed between eight and 10 for the next few minutes, and LSU led by nine with just over six minutes to play.
Down the stretch, Kentucky finally closed the gap and drew even. With 17 seconds left, Max Mackinnon made two free throws to give LSU a 74-72 lead. The Wildcats split a pair of free throws, cutting the lead to 74-73. The Tigers then missed a pair, and Kentucky was able to hit an 18-foot buzzer beater by Malachi Moreno to steal a 75-74 win.
BIG NUMBER: 18
LSU led by as many as 18 points in the second half. However, their lead slowly slipped away in another SEC loss.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Otega Oweh
Oweh led the charge in the comeback, scoring 21 for Kentucky. He also grabbed four rebounds in their improbable win.
UP NEXT: LSU will host Missouri at the PMAC on Saturday, January 17th at 2:30 PM. You can listen to the game on ESPN 103.7 Lafayette 104.1 Lake Charles.