Kentucky Stuns LSU with Buzzer-Beater Comeback in Baton Rouge
For 20 minutes, LSU had Kentucky right where they wanted them. Up 18 early in the second half, shooting nearly 50% from the field and 47% from deep, the Tigers looked poised to notch a signature SEC win. But in a game that flipped on a dime, it was Kentucky walking off the floor with a 75-74 win - thanks to a wild, last-second shot from freshman big man Malachi Moreno.
It was a gut punch of a loss for LSU, and head coach Matt McMahon didn’t sugarcoat it.
“You’re in position to win the game,” McMahon said postgame. “And unfortunately, I couldn’t help get our guys across the finish line.”
The finish was nothing short of jaw-dropping. With just 1.4 seconds left, Kentucky launched a full-court heave - a desperation pass from Collin Chandler that somehow found the hands of Moreno.
The 7-footer made a tough, contested catch, landed, took a dribble, turned, and calmly buried a 15-foot jumper as time expired. Game over.
The shot capped off a furious Kentucky rally, fueled by a second-half offensive explosion. After struggling to find rhythm before halftime, the Wildcats went 8-for-11 from beyond the arc in the second. That kind of efficiency from deep turned the tide - and quickly.
McMahon credited Kentucky for the adjustments that opened the floodgates.
“They went to a smaller lineup with more perimeter shooting on the floor,” he said. “In the first half, we were helping off the non-shooters, keeping the floor tight, and that helped us rebound. But when they started running more baseline actions and staggers for shooters, that gave us problems.”
Kentucky’s shift in spacing and tempo stretched LSU’s defense thin. The Tigers had success early by packing the paint and playing physically, but once Kentucky spread the floor and started switching everything on defense, the momentum swung hard.
“They started switching everything defensively, and that disrupted us in some stretches,” McMahon said. “They made good adjustments. And then guys stepped up and hit shots - some of them contested.”
One of those guys was Moreno, who had already made his presence felt throughout the night. The freshman center, who led Great Crossing to a state title last March, finished with 10 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block in just 20 minutes. He played the final eight minutes with four fouls - and still managed to deliver the biggest shot of the game.
“He’s getting better every time out, which happens with experience,” McMahon said. “He has tremendous size for the position. He gives them great rim presence, both on the glass and with his shot blocking.”
LSU did manage to get Moreno in foul trouble, which helped them build the second-half lead. But when it mattered most, the 7-footer was back on the court - screening, rebounding, and ultimately, sealing the win with a moment he’ll never forget.
“He’s just a very skilled five man with great size,” McMahon added. “That’s a tough shot to hit at the buzzer, and he made it.”
For Kentucky, it was a resilient road win - the kind of gritty, come-from-behind performance that builds confidence and character in conference play. For LSU, it was a lesson in how quickly a game can unravel when a team like Kentucky gets hot.
Sometimes, in college basketball, all it takes is one pass, one catch, and one shot.