LSU basketball falters in the second half, loses to Mississippi State
The Tigers began Wednesday night’s game against Mississippi State looking like the team that gave top-five Alabama a scare on Saturday. Unfortunately, the second half largely resembled the rest of the last month and change as LSU fell 64-53 in Starkville.
With the loss, the Tigers drop to 12-12 (1-10 SEC) on the season and have now lost 11-straight games after beginning the season 12-1.
In the opening minutes, it looked like LSU was heading for another ugly performance on the road. The Tigers quickly fell behind 10-0 thanks to a hot start from the Bulldogs, but MSU cooled off and a 10-point run of their own allowed the Tigers to get back in the game.
LSU spent a lot of the first half nursing a minimal lead and shooting above 50%, but that offensive success wouldn’t last. The Tigers ended the first half on a 7:20 scoring drought, turning the ball over seven times in that span.
Mississippi State, meanwhile, ended the frame on a 9-0 run and took a slim 25-22 lead to the locker room.
LSU had a slow start offensively in the second, and the Bulldogs took advantage. They quickly stretched out a double-digit lead, and the Tigers spent the rest of the game playing catch-up.
The offense improved, and LSU ultimately shot 44% in the second half, but it wasn’t enough against an MSU team that couldn’t miss. Mississippi State hit 15 of 23 shots (65.2%), and though star Tolu Smith was held relatively in check with 10 points, D.J. Jeffries scored 18, while Shakeel Moore scored 13.
KJ Williams led the way with 11 points for the Tigers, while Adam Miller and Derek Fountain each scored 10.
LSU will have to wait to try to end its losing streak until Saturday when it returns to Baton Rouge to host a very hot Texas A&M team.
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SEC men's basketball standings entering back half of the season
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