Tag: xavier pinson

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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Will Wade addresses team’s issues as frustration mounts

Wade addresses the effort of the men’s basketball team.

After starting the basketball campaign 14-1 and 2-1 in the SEC, the wheels have completely come off for the LSU men’s basketball program. Will Wade’s team is 2-6 overall and 2-5 in SEC play since that day.

For the second game in a row, the Tigers found themselves down 20+ points to a team they shouldn’t struggle with as they have. Once again the Tigers came storming back to get within five before the Vanderbilt Commodores ran away with it again.

The well-oiled machine that we saw for the majority of the season is a shell of their former selves. Rotations on defense are slow, the timing on closeouts is off. Not to mention they are trying to create off the bounce rather than get into their sets. Too many sloppy turnovers and contested three-point shots. Overall, the team just looks out of rhythm and Wade addressed it after the game.

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“It’s hard to be confident when you’ve lost six out of seven,” Wade said in his postgame press conference. The head coach understands that this team is lacking confidence at this point. “I mean look, we’ve got to inject a little confidence in our guys and we’ve got to get back to certainly playing better than we are now.”

It isn’t just one side of the floor that has been the issue for the Purple and Gold. Sloppy play at both ends is exacerbated by the fact that they aren’t healthy right now. They recently got Darius Days back but Xavier Pinson sat once again as he tries to recover from the knee injury suffered in their first matchup with the Tennessee Vols.

“Some of its health, but we can’t blame it all on that. Everybody’s got some issues. We didn’t get an offensive rebound in the first half, that’s an effort issue. We don’t follow the details on the scouting report. Give up 11 threes to two of their best shooters, that’s a detail issue. So it’s a little bit of both”

The good news for LSU is that their next game comes against Texas A&M, the only team the Tigers have beaten in their last six chances. The Bayou Bengals travel to College Station on Tuesday, where Wade will try once again to get his 100th career win at LSU.

Wade is current 99-46 and 50-29 in SEC play over his five seasons on the Bayou. LSU has won the last nine games and all four road games against the Aggies since Wade took over for Johnny Jones in 2017.

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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)

LSU continues to struggle in loss to TCU, fourth loss in five games

The second-half run falls short for the Tigers

It was another disappointing for Will Wade’s group today.

When it looked like LSU was getting healthier with a chance to break out of its slump, LSU couldn’t secure a win against TCU to drop to 16-5 on the year.

The first 15 minutes of the game were back and forth, with LSU getting out to a 24-23 lead. After that, TCU went on a run to close out the half that gave the Horned Frogs a 38-29 lead. That run extended into the second half when TCU’s Chuck O’Bannon got hot from three. That put LSU down 16 and gave TCU its largest lead of the day.

LSU was able to go on a 15-2 run and cut the TCU lead to three with 11:00 to go.

TCU found their footing and a foul behind the 3-point line gave the Horned Frogs a few free throws to make it 65-56.

The refs blew the whistle a lot in this game, allowing both teams to reach the bonus fairly early. Darius Days and Eric Gaines both found themselves in foul trouble down the stretch.

The amount of free-throw opportunities LSU handed TCU in the second half is what allowed the Horned Frogs to hold off an LSU comeback.

Tari Eason led the Tigers in points, scoring 16. Days and Gaines added 14 apiece.

For TCU, it was O’Bannon, as well as Mike Miles Jr, who shared the game-high, each scoring 19.

A significant storyline today was the return of Xavier Pinson, though he was still on a minutes limit.

LSU has not looked the same since Pinson left the win over Tennessee earlier this month. LSU has been waiting for his return, hoping he would give a boost to the offense.

He only played seven minutes today. Not enough time to gauge if getting Pinson back is really the magic ingredient for a struggling LSU team.

Days, also returning from injury, only shot 5-14 from the field, but did earn his 20th career double-double.

LSU has now lost four of five. Over the last few weeks, LSU’s offensive struggles have come to the forefront after the defense covered them up the first couple of months of the season.

There are too many instances where LSU isn’t able to finish inside. When pressured, their guards aren’t decisive enough with the ball. There’s no knock-down shooter either that Will Wade can rely on when they need to go on a run.

When LSU isn’t creating points in transition, the offense is almost non-existent. Brandon Murray has offered promise the last couple of weeks, but he’s just a freshman who isn’t ready to be the scorer Cam Thomas was last year.

LSU, once again, showed a fight today after erasing a large deficit. The issue is getting into that deficit in the first place. LSU needs to shoot better out of the gate and now rely on 10-0 runs happening every second half.

Next up, LSU will host Ole Miss on Tuesday as they try to get back on track.

LSU vs TCU: Game details for Tigers’ SEC/Big 12 Challenge

How to watch, listen, and stream the SEC/Big 12 Challenge tomorrow

On Saturday the LSU Tigers look to make it two in a row after knocking off Texas A&M at the PMAC on Wednesday night. It was their first win in four chances since the injury to starting point guard Xavier Pinson.

The Tigers will take part in early tipoff action for the set of 10 games featuring the Big 12 Conference and the SEC. The Tigers drew the assignment of the TCU Horned Frogs. The Frogs are coming off an embarrassing loss to the Texas Longhorns on their home court. Now they welcome the No. 19 ranked LSU Tigers on Saturday.

The big question will be the health and status of the top three contributors on the team. As mentioned starting point man Xavier Pinson hasn’t played since he suffered a knee injury against the Tennessee Volunteers on Jan. 8 in Baton Rouge. In their second go-around with the Vols, it was all Tennessee as they defeated LSU 64-50.

The Tigers were also without a key veteran, forward Darius Days. He suffered an ankle injury against the Alabama Crimson Tide and reaggravated it against the Vols on Jan. 22. He would sit out the game against Texas A&M where the shorthanded Tigers would come roaring back to win that game. Tari Eason also injured himself in the game against the Aggies.

While the Frogs aren’t the biggest threats, the potential of not having your top three scorers is huge. Luckily enough for LSU, freshman guard Brandon Murray stepped up in Days absence to carry the scoring load. Eric Gaines filled in for Pinson once again, coming up big with a late block that helped seal the victory.

Game Details: SEC/Big 12 Challenge

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
  • Date: Saturday, Jan. 29
  • Location: Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth, Texas
  • Time: 11:00 a.m. CT
  • TV: ESPN2
  • Radio: LSU Radio Network
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (try it free)

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