Tag: Tari Eason

LSU continues to get back on track against Mississippi State

It wasn’t perfect, but LSU got the win

For the first time in well over a month, LSU has won back to back games.

LSU defeated Mississippi State 69-65 on Saturday night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

The first few minutes of the game looked like LSU’s offense would be missing in action as they have been far too many times this season.

Mississippi State raced out to a 7-0 lead as LSU missed their first nine shots of the game over the first four minutes. LSU eventually woke up with their own 12-0 run, to make it 12-7.

LSU built on that run to take a strong 37-22 lead into the half. LSU has relied on defense and turnovers to win games this year and there was plenty of that in the first half for the Tigers. LSU was not able to carry that momentum into the second half as Mississippi State fought all the way back to tie it.

Tari Eason then made some big plays and LSU was able to regroup. Eason has had a lot of good games this year but this was one of his best. He did his usual on defense and in transition but he also led the Tigers in 3-point shots. The former Cincinnati transfer led the way with 23 points for LSU.

Mississippi State was led by Iverson Molinar who had a game-high 26 points.

With Pinson back, LSU looks to be getting back on track. Along with Eason, Pinson and Days were the only other Tigers to score in double-digits.

ESPN’s Joe Lunardi said during the broadcast that the NCAA selection committee could take note of injuries that seemed to have led directly to wins and losses and Pinson seems to certainly fit in that category.

Despite the win, LSU needs to shoot better. Darius Days and Pinson both struggled mightily from deep in this game. The offense played well, but it was far from consistent and questions remain.

Mississippi State was a formidable opponent and this was a solid win for a LSU team that was still searching for stability.

Game Details: LSU set to host Mississippi State on Saturday night

LSU set to host Mississippi State on Saturday night at the PMAC.

The LSU Tigers were able to stop the skid once again as they swept Texas A&M on Tuesday night in College Station.

Will Wade and LSU look to make it two in a row. They haven’t won back-to-back games since beating Tennessee and Florida in early January. They have won just two games since that point, both coming against the Aggies with a pair of three-game losing streaks sandwiched in between.

The team looked much better offensively with Xavier Pinson on the floor for a good amount of the game. They built up a 20-point lead in the first half and hung on for the win. Following the matchup with Mississippi State on Saturday the team hosts Georgia.

Over the final seven games, LSU will play No. 5 Kentucky, Arkansas who is coming off a win over No. 1 Auburn, and Alabama to close out the season on Mar. 5.

Game details

  • Date: Saturday, Feb. 12
  • Location: PMAC in Baton Rouge
  • Time: 7:00 p.m. CT
  • TV: ESPN2
  • Radio: LSU Radio Network
  • App: Watch ESPN
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (try it free)

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook

Spread: LSU (-6.5)

Over/Under: 134.5

Money Line: LSU (-300) | Mississippi State (+230)

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Tari Eason named to Naismith Trophy midseason team

Tari Eason has been a menace.

LSU Tigers forward Tari Eason made the decision to leave Cincinnati after his freshman season, it was a good decision for him and his new team.

Will Wade has used him in a variety of ways from starter to the first off the bench. Eason provides the energy and a lot of big plays. We saw plenty of that on Tuesday night in College Station. After missing the second free throw show, he got the ball right back and dunked it home. An unconventional three-point play but if it works, don’t fix it.

He was key to stopping the skid as they traveled to Texas to take on the Aggies. In the 76-68 victory at Reed Arena in College Station. Eason recorded a double-double with 25 points and 12 rebounds. He consistently has scored over 20 points in a game more than any other Tiger.

Eason has scored 20 or more points in a game seven times this year. He has failed to hit double-digits in just three of his 23 games.

Tari Eason Stats

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Comparing his stats to his per 40-minute numbers.

Eason Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks
Season 16.3 7.0 1.0 1.9 1.1
Per 40-min 26.3 15.8 2.4 4.2 2.5

Simply put, Tari Eason has been a menace on the floor for Will Wade. Given injuries to Xavier Pinson and Darius Days, he has been needed to provide the scoring along with Eric Gaines and Brandon Murray.

Eason has been so impactful he was named to the Naismith Trophy midseason team. The trophy is given annually to the nation’s best player and no question Eason should be among those in contention.

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LSU Men’s Basketball: LSU gets much needed win against Texas A&M

LSU beats Texas A&M 76-68 for a huge road win.

The LSU Tigers got back into the win column with a 76-68 win over Texas A&M. Coming into the game, LSU had lost three straight games.

The game started close, but LSU got going midway through in the second half. The Tigers went on 25-5 run to end the first half. LSU shot 7-10 from three-point land during the run to take a 36-16 lead into halftime.

The Aggies cut the Tigers’ lead to ten in the second half, but LSU bounced right back and built the lead back to 17. LSU managed to hang on to the lead and got a much-needed win.

Xavier Pinson came back from injury and was back in the starting lineup. Pinson finished the game with 11 points, but the Tigers’ offense ran smoothly with Pinson back. LSU shot 49% from the field and 50% from beyond the Arc.

Tari Eason scored 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds off the bench. Eason has been great for LSU this year. Brandon Murray added 14 points, and Darius Days scored 10 points.

LSU defense played well in this game; they held Texas A&M to 16 points in the first half. However, the Aggies only shot 32.8% from the field and 26.7% from three-point land. It was an excellent road win for LSU. Let’s see what happens when they play Mississippi State at home on Saturday.

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Game Details: LSU goes for season sweep over Texas A&M

LSU looks to end another skid as they head to College Station.

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On Tuesday night LSU Tigers men’s basketball head coach Will Wade will get another opportunity to hit 100 career wins. The fourth time is the charm, right?

Not only is the time trying to get the milestone win for their head coach but they are also looking to stop the skid as they face the Aggies again. LSU came roaring back against Texas A&M in their last matchup to stop a three-game losing streak.

The first time it came before losses to Arkansas, Alabama, and Tennessee. This time around the Tigers are coming off losses to Texas Christian, Ole Miss, and Vanderbilt ahead of their trip to College Station.

Head coach Will Wade is hoping to inject some confidence into this team. “I mean look, we’ve got to inject a little confidence in our guys,” Wade said on Saturday. “we’ve got to get back to certainly playing better than we are now.”

The team needs to have a healthy Xavier Pinson on the floor, something they haven’t had since their first game against the Vols. He sat against Vanderbilt as a chance to let his injured knee heal. The team relied on Darius Days and Tari Eason, as well as Eric Gaines running the offense.

The trio poured in double-digits in points and Days added a double-double with 10 rebounds. It just wasn’t enough after falling behind by 21 points to the Commodores. The key for the Tigers against the Aggies will be staying within striking distance if they get off to a slow start again.

The Tigers will return home on Saturday to host Mississippi State and Georgia before their next road trip. The hope is that LSU can get right over the next four games before battling Kentucky in Lexington.

Game details

  • Date: Tuesday, Feb. 8
  • Location: Reed Arena in College Station, Texas
  • Time: 6:00 p.m. CT
  • TV: SEC Network
  • Radio: LSU Radio Network
  • App: Watch ESPN
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (try it free)

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook

Spread: LSU (-2.5)

Over/Under: 131.5

Money Line: LSU (-145) | Texas A&M (+270)

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It feels like a re-run, LSU falls again after slow start

LSU continued to bleed out as they dropped yet another game in Nashville

Different game, same story.

LSU got off to a slow start, only to fight their way back in the second half, but it just wasn’t enough. LSU dropped yet another conference game when they faced Vanderbilt in Nashville on Saturday.

LSU scored just 25 points in the first half and went into the locker room down 18. In the second half, they were able to put a couple runs together to make it competitive. As has been the trend, LSU just was not able to close the deal.

The Tigers couldn’t keep up with Vanderbilt’s shooting. Vanderbilt sunk 13 shots from behind the arc. LSU made just three. Vanderbilt’s Rodney Chatham scored a game-high 24 points, with 18 of those coming on 3-pointers.

In what shouldn’t be a surprise, LSU was led by Tari Eason, who led LSU with 16 points and five steals. Eric Gaines and Darius Days also scored in double-figures, but Days was just 3-8 from the floor. Days did have another double-double, managing to grab 10 rebounds.

Vanderbilt was also aided by a 17-point performance from Myles Stute and 13 more from Jordan Wright.

This was LSU’s sixth loss in seven games in what has been one of the worst stretches of the Will Wade era. After getting off to one of the best starts in program history, LSU is now 16-6 and 4-6 in SEC play.

At this point, it’s fair to ask if LSU is even a good team right now. The results certainly don’t say so.

LSU is still comfortably in the field of 68 for the NCAA tournament, but this is now a team that has lost back-to-back games to teams in the bottom half of the SEC.

LSU looks incapable of playing a complete game. The Tigers continue to show flashes in the second half, but they also continue to baffle, having stretches where it looks like the offense doesn’t exist.

Next up for LSU is a trip to College Station. LSU needs to win if only just to stop the bleeding.

The lone win LSU has during this brutal stretch came against Texas A&M a couple of weeks ago in the PMAC. It’s a win LSU had to fight for, and it looks like they’ll have to fight again.

No player has had the impact like Tari Eason has

Tari Eason ranks as one of the best transfer players this year.

LSU Tigers basketball player Tari Eason ranks as one of the most impactful transfer players this season. Eason spent his freshman year at the Unversity of Cincinnati. He came in at No. 9 on 247Sports’ list.

While at Cincinnati, Eason played in 23 games, starting in eight. He averaged 7.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Eason also shot 46% from the field. His 1.3 blocks per game ranked fourth in the AAC.

Eason was the type of player that LSU head coach Will Wade likes, a long, athletic player that can play on both sides of the floor. The forward has been a great addition to the Tigers helping LSU to a 16-6 record, although they have been struggling of late.

Will Wade has a type when it comes to recruiting and Tari Eason fits the bill to a tee – a sizey, long and athletic player who brings two-way versatility to Baton Rouge.

Eason is making a case as a first-round pick in this upcoming June Draft regardless of him coming off the bench for the Tigers, having started in only three games.

His per-40 numbers are rather impressive posting 25.6 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.6 blocks per-40. His impact for a Top 25 team this year and his push as a potential first-round pick lands him in the top ten of the most impactful transfer of the off-season.

So far this season, Eason is averaging 15.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.0 blocks, 1.7 steals per game. He is shooting 52.8% from the field and 31.1% from beyond the arc. Eason leads the Tigers in scoring despite coming off the bench.

Eason must continue to play well to get LSU to turn their season around and overcome the loss of Xavier Pinson, who has been injured.

LSU vs Vanderbilt: Game details for Saturday’s SEC tilt

LSU looks to get back to their winning ways against Vanderbilt

The LSU men’s basketball team heads to Tennessee to take on Vanderbilt. LSU has a record of 16-5 and lost five of their last six games. Vanderbilt is 11-10 so far on the season.

Over the past ten games, LSU has been struggling from the field, shooting just 40.8%. They will need to have a better offensive game to win on the road. The Tigers will be without guard Xavier Pinson on Saturday. Since Pinson has been out, LSU has struggled.

Players to watch

Tari Eason leads LSU in scoring averaging 15.2 points per game. Eason is shooting 52.8% from the field and 6.9 rebounds per game. Darius Days is second on the team in scoring with 13.6 points per and is the Tigers leading rebounder, averaging 7.8 rebounds per game. Brandon Murray and Eric Gaines will need to step up and have good games for LSU to win.

Scottie Pippen Jr. leads Vanderbilt in scoring with 19.3 points per game; in his last game, Pippen scored 33 points. Jordan Wright is also a player to watch coming into the contest, averaging 12.3 points and six rebounds per game.

Game details

  • Date: Saturday, Feb. 5
  • Location: Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tennessee
  • Time: 5:00 p.m. CT
  • TV: SEC Network
  • Radio: LSU Radio Network
  • App: Watch ESPN
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (try it free)

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook

Spread: LSU (-3.5)

Over/Under: 131.5

Money Line: LSU (-180) Vanderbilt (+145)

Instant Analysis: Takeaways from the LSU Tigers loss to Ole Miss

Five takeaways coming out of LSU’s worst loss of the year

Another game, another rough loss for LSU.

It’s no secret LSU is in a slump. This one though felt different. Up until this point, LSU had taken care of business against teams of Ole Miss’ caliber.

The losses have come to the top 50 teams that will be playing in late March. That’s not what Ole Miss is. LSU came into this game a double-digit favorite and proceeded to play its worst half of basketball all year. At one point in the first half, LSU was down 23. It looked over.

LSU was able to cut the Ole Miss lead to just 13 before half-time before pulling within two in the final seconds. It’s a common trend seen in LSU contests lately. The Tigers dig themselves a whole, just to find hope in the second half, but are not able to close it out in the end.

As the broadcast pointed out, LSU’s NET ranking still had Will Wade’s group in a good position entering the game. It will be interesting to see where things stand now, with this loss coming at home to a team outside the top 100.

For the second game in a row, LSU allowed over 70 points and couldn’t find enough firepower to match it on their end.

LSU men’s basketball set to host Ole Miss in SEC showdown

LSU looks to get back on track against Ole Miss in Baton Rouge

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The LSU men’s basketball team has now dropped to the No.25 in the rankings after losing four out of five games. Tuesday, they will host Mississippi at home. LSU comes into the game 16-5 and Ole Miss 11-10. Playing against a not-so-good Ole Miss team should get the Tigers back on track.

Players to watch

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Tari Eason leads the Tigers in scoring with 15.9 points per, while also averaging seven rebounds per game; Eason does all this while coming off the bench for LSU. Darius Days leads LSU in rebounding with 7.5 per game. Days also scored 13.1 points per contest. Days has been struggling from the field as of late and needs to pick it up. Xavier Pinson came back last game but only played seven minutes. The Tigers need Pinson healthy to get back on track.

Daeshun Ruffin averages 12.2 points per game for Ole Miss on 35% shooting from the field. Matthew Murrell adds 10.5 points per game and shoots 40% from three-point land. Nysier Brooks averages close to a double-double with 9.4 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.

Game details

  • Date: Tuesday, Feb. 1
  • Location: Pete Maravich Center in Baton Rouge
  • Time: 8:00 p.m. CT
  • TV: SEC Network
  • Radio: LSU Radio Network
  • App: Watch ESPN
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (try it free)

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook

Spread: LSU (-13.5)

Over/Under: 1265

Money Line: LSU (-1100) | Ole Miss (+650)