LSU kicked off its SEC Tournament with a win over Missouri on Thursday afternoon. Despite a little inconsistency, the Tigers were firmly in control for the entire game, winning 76-68.
Coach Will Wade’s squad raced to a big lead out of the gates, already having scored 34 by the time Missouri even put double-digits on the board.
LSU forced 11 turnovers in the first half alone, while Darius Days and Xavier Pinson combined for 21 points. The Tigers shot 5 of 12 from deep in the first half, a solid mark for an offense that has struggled to shoot this year.
Nearing the end of the first half and to open the second, Missouri started to make it a game again. It never really came within striking distance, but it still putting some pressure on LSU.
That didn’t last long, though, as the Tigers responded, establishing another significant lead. LSU was led by Tari Eason and Days, who scored 19 and 16 points, respectively. Pinson, Eric Gaines, and Efton Reid also scored in double-digits on the day.
The Tigers will advance to face No. 4-seeded Arkansas on Thursday. The Tigers have faced the Razorbacks twice this season, losing both contests. Here were the standouts from Thursday’s win.
Darius Days
It’s been true all year and maybe even the last three years, but where Days goes, LSU goes.
He played a large part in LSU’s fast start, with most of his points coming in the first half. Days brought his best on Thursday, scoring 16 while grabbing seven rebounds. He shot 50% from the field, including sinking two three-pointers.
Days helped out on defense with a couple of steals and a block. LSU will need to continue to get efficient performances from him to find success on Friday and beyond.
Tari Eason
Once again, it’s no surprise finding Eason here. He led the Tigers in scoring with an efficient shooting percentage and hauled in five boards, as well.
Eason has been one of the best players in the SEC, if not the country all year. A performance such as his today seems rather mundane for him now. When He’s around the ball, on either side of the court, good things happen. He’s LSU’s clear-cut number one at this point, despite the fact that he still comes off the bench.
The Tigers will need Eason at his best to beat Arkansas on Friday.
Efton Reid
When Reid arrived at LSU last summer, big things were expected. He was a big-time recruit who brought a lot of size that the Tigers hadn’t seen in a couple of years.
Reid’s season was marred by some inconsistencies that have led to his playing time dwindling lately. On Thursday, he performed like a five-star. The 20-year-old from Virginia went a perfect 6 of 6 from the field, helping LSU extend its lead again after Missouri had cut into it.
Any performance like this from Reid at this point is a boost to the Tigers. They have proven they can win with Reid as a role player. If he’s anything more than that, LSU’s ceiling is raised.
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