Honestly, if you're an LSU fan, you’re probably still staring at the wall this morning wondering how that just happened. It was a total "tale of two halves" situation at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The Tigers looked like they were finally going to snap that brutal conference losing streak, but instead, they watched a massive lead evaporate into a 75-74 heartbreak against Kentucky.
LSU led for over 35 minutes of this game. 35 minutes!
But the final buzzer is all that matters, and that belonged to Kentucky's freshman Malachi Moreno.
What was the LSU score last night?
The final LSU score last night was 74-75, a one-point loss to the Kentucky Wildcats. The Tigers went into the locker room at halftime feeling invincible with a 38-22 lead. Marquel Sutton was basically a flamethrower in the first half, racking up 14 points and making Kentucky’s defense look like a sieve.
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Then the second half happened.
Kentucky outscored LSU 53-36 after the break. It wasn't just a slow comeback; it was an avalanche. The Wildcats hit 8-of-11 shots from behind the arc in the second half. You can't really defend that when a team gets that hot.
The sequence that broke Tiger fans
With about 1.9 seconds left, LSU was actually up 74-73. Pablo Tamba went to the free-throw line with a chance to basically ice it or at least force Kentucky into a prayer of a heave. He missed both.
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Kentucky didn't have timeouts, but they didn't need one. They fired a "home run" pass nearly the full length of the floor. Moreno caught it at the free-throw line, turned, and sank a jumper as the horn sounded. The PMAC went from a roar to dead silence in about two seconds flat.
Why LSU is struggling in the SEC
This loss drops the Tigers to 0-4 in conference play. It’s the first time they’ve blown a lead this big—18 points early in the second half—since that weird game against Missouri back in 2023.
It’s easy to point at the missed free throws, but the problems go deeper. The Tigers were playing without their engine, Dedan Thomas Jr., who has been sidelined with a leg injury since late December. Without him, the offense gets stagnant. Max Mackinnon struggled from the floor, going 4-of-16, even though he was perfect from the line.
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- LSU Field Goal Percentage: 23-77 (29.9%)
- Kentucky Second Half 3PT: 72.7%
- Time LSU Led: 35:37
Matt McMahon mentioned after the game that he was proud of the preparation, and truthfully, the first half was some of the best basketball LSU has played all season. They held Kentucky to just 27% shooting in the first 20 minutes. But in the SEC, you have to play for 40 minutes, not 30.
Looking ahead to the next matchup
There isn't much time to pout. LSU has to turn around and face Missouri on Saturday, January 17. If they want to salvage the season, they have to figure out how to close out games when the pressure ramps up. The defense, which was phenomenal in the first half, completely lost track of Kentucky's shooters like Otega Oweh (who finished with 21 points) when it counted most.
If you're looking for a silver lining, Marquel Sutton and Rashad King played well enough to win. They just didn't get the "stop" they needed on that final inbound play.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the Injury Report: Keep a close eye on Dedan Thomas Jr.’s status for Saturday. LSU's offense is a different beast when he’s on the floor.
- Watch the Perimeter: In the Missouri game, watch if LSU switches to a more aggressive man-to-man defense late in the game to prevent the kind of 3-point barrage Kentucky used to get back into it.
- Ticket Check: If you're heading to the PMAC for the Missouri game, tip-off is set for 3:30 PM EST.