That was certainly one way to bounce back.
The LSU Tigers (18-4, 8-1 SEC) looked out of sorts last Saturday in a loss to Arkansas and needed to try and avoid making this a trend. That was exactly the case on Wednesday night with a 92-88 win in overtime over Mississippi State (16-6, 4-5 SEC) inside Humphrey Coliseum.
How It Happened:
After a slow start, LSU was able to take control early on thanks to Tremont Waters getting hot. However, Reggie Perry lifted the Bulldogs and helped them get out to a nine-point lead with 8:04 left in the first half. The Tigers fought back late in the first half getting within one point, but a 9-4 run gave the Bulldogs a 42-34 lead at the break.
It was all Mississippi State for much of the second half with Perry pushing the pace, but the Tigers were able to fight back in the final moments of regulation thanks to some clutch shooting by Kavell Bigby-Williams and Waters to force overtime. For much of overtime, it felt like this game would be determined at the free throw line, but an incredibly lucky bounce on a three-ball from Naz Reid as the shot clock ran out sealed the win for LSU against a tough team on the road.
Big Number: 27.3
What has been going on with three-point shooting for the Tigers? They attempted only 11 shots from beyond the arc and made three of those. 27.3% shooting from three is not a good look especially when you look at what they’ve done in the last five or six matchups, it has been absolutely poor. All this being said, one of those three came at exactly the right time.
Player of the Game: Naz Reid
This isn’t just for the final moments in the win, but he was clearly the better player on the hardwood on Wednesday with 29 points, nine boards, and one block on the evening. Many fans of LSU had been waiting for the standout moment from him and they got just that with that clutch three with under a minute in overtime.
Next Up: Saturday vs Auburn; Tipoff at 1 pm
-Clint Domingue