LSU (19-9, 7-8 SEC) fell to Kentucky (23-5, 12-3 SEC), 71-66, Wednesday night at Rupp Arena.
Xavier Pinson led the Tigers with 26 points and eight assists. Eric Gaines was second in points with 11 and Darius Days had ten points. LSU’s leading scorer, Tari Eason, fouled out in 13 minutes of play and was held to five points. Efton Reid and Brandon Murray also fouled out.
LSU blew an eight-point halftime lead to a Kentucky team missing guards TyTy Washington and Sahvir Wheeler. The Wildcats forced the Tigers into bad shots and controlled the offensive glass.
Despite trailing by 15 points with under three minutes to go, LSU deployed a full-court press and pulled within four points with 33 seconds to go. Pinson missed a layup that would have cut the lead to one basket.
Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe put up a double-double with 17 points and 16 rebounds. The Wildcats had three players, Davion Mintz, Kellan Grady, and Bryce Hopkins, with 13 points each.
LSU returns to the PMAC for their next game which will be against Mizzou on Saturday, February 26 at 7:30 p.m. on SEC Network
SEC officiating is dubious.