It’s not often that the LSU Tigers (20-4, 10-1 SEC) get a win in Rupp Arena. In fact it hadn’t happened since the 2009 season, but that changed on Tuesday night with a tip-in by Kavell Bigby-Williams gave the Tigers a 73-71 win over the Kentucky Wildcats (20-4, 9-2 SEC).
How It Happened
Much of the first half was a tug of war between both teams and for a while it felt like neither team could get a significant lead. However, the Wildcats started to pull away after a three-pointer by Reid Travis with 8:02 left until halftime to take a seven-point lead. Things seemingly turned around late in the first half with Skylar Mays giving LSU the lead with a three-pointer, but Kentucky responded with a 9-4 run to take a 40-32 lead into the locker room.
The second half was much like the first with both teams trading buckets and Kentucky not being able to put away the Tigers. That start was enough to help LSU take the lead with 8:15 left in regulation after an Emmitt Williams layup. Kentucky managed to tie things up off of a pair of free throws by Keldon Johnson with six seconds left, which was followed up by a tip-in at the buzzer to come away with their first win inside Rupp Arena in ten years.
Big Number: 86.4%
The entire ballgame was very evenly matched, especially when you look at the statistics. The only significant difference was the fact that LSU had a very good performance from the charity stripe, shooting 86.4% compared to Kentucky’s 69.6%.
Player of the Game: Naz Reid
Reid had an overall really good performance on Tuesday night with 12 points, seven boards, and two steals on the evening. While Tremont Waters had a solid game himself, Reid gets the edge because of his overall performance.
Next Up: Saturday at Georgia; Tipoff at 5 pm
-Clint Domingue