The LSU Tigers were set to pick up a big win on Saturday against the No. 10 Texas Tech Red Raiders in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge until a monumental collapse in the final 59 seconds led to a 76-71 loss.
LSU held a 71-64 lead with just over one minute remaining after Shareef O’Neal scored on a tip-in.
The Red Raiders came right down the floor, and guard Mac McClung nailed a 3-point shot to cut the lead to four points.
LSU junior forward Josh LeBlanc was fouled and missed the front end of a one-and-one, leading to Texas Tech missing a 3-point attempt. However, McClung grabbed the offensive rebound, stepped behind the 3-point line, and made it a one-point game with just 32 seconds remaining.
The Tigers called timeout, and forward Trendon Watford turned the ball over on the following play. Texas Tech forward Terrence Shannon scored to give the Red Raiders a 72-71 lead. Then, LSU freshman guard Cameron Thomas missed both of his final attempts, and the Tigers dropped an important game in heartbreaking fashion.
The Red Raiders scored the final 12 points of the game and all in less than a minute.
LSU led for a majority of this game, led by junior guard Javonte Smart who scored 29 points. Thomas scored 25 points but made just six of 20 attempts from the field.
The Tigers suffered a potentially devasting loss with around 10 minutes remaining when junior forward Darius Days injured his leg. Days had scored 11 points and pulled down nine rebounds at the time of his departure.
Tough news for #LSU: Darius Days leaves at 10:57 mark with what appears to be a left knee injury.
He looks to be in significant pain while being looked at by trainer Shawn Eddy and and is eventually taken to the locker room in a wheelchair.
— Sheldon Mickles (@MicklesAdvocate) January 30, 2021
LSU falls to 11-5 on the season and returns to the court on Wednesday at No. 9 Alabama. The Crimson Tide blew out the Tigers two weeks ago in Baton Rouge and this now becomes the most important game of the season for head coach Will Wade and his team.