LSU Falls to Arkansas in Lopsided Loss, Drops to 0-9 in SEC Play
Tuesday night was supposed to be a moment of celebration in Baton Rouge, as LSU honored the 20th anniversary of its 2006 Final Four team-a group that famously took down Arkansas with a game-winning three-pointer. But any hopes of channeling that historic energy were dashed early, as the Tigers fell behind quickly and never recovered in a 91-62 loss to the Razorbacks at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
LSU now finds itself winless through nine SEC games, and this latest defeat was as lopsided as the score suggests.
A Rough Start That Set the Tone
From the opening tip, Arkansas came out firing. Within the first five minutes, the Razorbacks had built a double-digit lead, capitalizing on LSU’s sluggish start and defensive breakdowns. By halftime, the Tigers were staring at a 42-27 deficit, and the gap only widened from there.
Arkansas head coach John Calipari didn’t mince words after the game, saying, *“We played really good today. We really played good.
We’ve had other games where we really played bad; it just wasn’t this game. This is more about us than it was about LSU.”
And he wasn’t wrong. The Razorbacks executed at a high level on both ends of the floor, while LSU struggled to find any rhythm.
Arkansas’ Trio of Stars Shines Bright
The Razorbacks’ offense was led by a trio that couldn’t miss. Darius Acuff Jr. was the headliner, pouring in 28 points and dishing out five assists.
He controlled the tempo, created his own looks, and made LSU pay every time they gave him space. Meleek Thomas added 20 points with a smooth scoring touch, and Trevon Brazile posted a double-double, dominating the glass and anchoring the paint.
Arkansas shot a scorching 56.5% from the field and piled up 64 points in the paint-an area where they simply overpowered LSU. Even though they didn’t shoot particularly well from deep (3-of-12), it didn’t matter. They didn’t need to.
LSU’s Offensive Struggles Continue
For the Tigers, it was another night where nothing seemed to click offensively. They shot just 30.9% from the floor and went a dismal 3-of-21 from beyond the arc. The lack of perimeter shooting allowed Arkansas to collapse inside, making life even more difficult for LSU’s big men.
Still, there were some bright spots. Forwards Marquel Sutton and Pablo Tamba combined for 29 points and 13 rebounds, showing some fight in the paint. But without consistent guard play and floor spacing, their efforts weren’t enough to keep LSU within striking distance.
Max Mackinnon’s Injury Adds to LSU’s Woes
To make matters worse, standout guard Max Mackinnon went down with a knee injury and didn’t return for the second half. Head coach Matt McMahon addressed the situation postgame, saying, *“You saw Max Mackinnon injured his knee there.
We don’t think it’s anything serious, but he’ll be evaluated in the morning, and we’ll see where we stand from there moving forward.” *
Losing Mackinnon, even temporarily, is a significant blow for a team already struggling to find its footing.
Searching for Answers, Clinging to Brotherhood
With nine SEC losses and counting, LSU is in a tough spot. Chemistry, confidence, and consistency are all in question-but inside the locker room, the players are leaning on each other.
“We have to stay together,” said Sutton. “A game like this we can’t separate from each other.
We have to stay together. Play team basketball and show that our brotherhood is still in full effect.”
That mindset will be tested quickly. LSU hits the road for a Valentine’s Day matchup against Tennessee in Knoxville, while Arkansas returns home to host Auburn. For the Tigers, it’s another chance to reset, regroup, and try to claw their way into the win column.
But if Tuesday night was any indication, there’s a lot of work to be done.