The LSU Tigers’ men’s basketball team was eliminated with a 92-61 defeat at the hands of the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Wednesday night at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. The loss likely ends LSU’s season at 14-18.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The two teams traded baskets early on, with neither grabbing a big advantage early on. Inside of 14 minutes to play, a Cam Carter three got LSU to within one at 13-12.
Down the stretch of the first half, the Bulldogs finally started to create some distance in this game. Claudell Harris Jr made consecutive threes, helping extend the lead to seven. It would grow as large as 15 as Mississippi State led 37-22 before the four minute media timeout took place.
LSU was able able to muster four points in the final 7:53 of the half. A Josh Hubbard three at the end of the period helped Mississippi State to extend the lead to 20 at 44-24.
The Tigers attempted to battle back in the second half behind Carter. He was able to pull them within 15 at 51-36 at the first media break of the half. However, the Bulldogs’ three-point shooting extended the lead back out. Consecutive threes from Hubbard and RJ Melendez made it an 18-point game, and the Tiger offense started to struggle once more.
Inside of the 12 minute mark, the flood gates started to open and the Bulldogs started to run away. All-in-all it was a 29-9 run that put this game out of reach. Mississippi State led 82-52 with just over four minutes to play. That lead would remain, with the Bulldogs winning by 29.
Despite the losing effort, Jordan Sears led the Tigers with 20 points.
BIG NUMBER: 15
The Bulldogs were hot from the outside, knocking down 15 threes. That perimeter scoring helped them to grow and extend their lead at various points of this game.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Josh Hubbard
Hubbard went off for 26 points and did so on 9-19 shooting from the field. He made half of his 12 three-point attempts.
UP NEXT: LSU’s season likely ends with a 14-18 record, although they can be selected for the NIT.