LSU Looks to Bounce Back at Home Against Mississippi State
BATON ROUGE - After a tough road loss at Arkansas, LSU returns to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Wednesday night with a chance to reset and regain momentum in SEC play. The Tigers host Mississippi State at 6 p.m. CT, and with both teams looking to steady the ship, this one has the feel of a midseason measuring stick.
You can catch the game streaming on SECN+ with Dave Neal and Jon Sundvold on the call, or tune in to Chris Blair and John Brady on the LSU Sports Radio Network, including Baton Rouge’s Eagle 98.1 FM.
Back in Baton Rouge, Back to Business
LSU’s 85-81 loss at Arkansas over the weekend wasn’t without positives. All five starters hit double figures, the Tigers kept turnovers to single digits (just nine), and DJ Thomas Jr. made a strong return to the starting lineup, dropping 18 points and dishing out five assists. Still, Arkansas’ Darius Acuff was simply too much, pouring in 31 points to tip the scales in the Razorbacks’ favor.
Despite the loss, head coach Matt McMahon saw signs of the team rounding back into form.
“There is certainly a great opportunity for us this week,” McMahon said on his weekly radio show. “I thought it felt a lot more like our 12-1 team that beat SMU - getting everybody back healthy, getting back to the pace of play we’d like to play with offensively. I saw a lot of really encouraging signs.”
That pace - fast, fluid, and focused - is what LSU is hoping to bring back to the PMAC floor. And with the team nearing full health, there’s reason to believe the Tigers can start stringing together wins again.
Scouting the Bulldogs
Mississippi State, meanwhile, comes in licking its wounds after a lopsided 88-56 home loss to Vanderbilt. The Bulldogs struggled on both ends, shooting just 34.5% from the field and coughing up 17 turnovers - giveaways that led directly to 28 Commodore points. Jayden Epps was the lone bright spot, finishing with 14 points.
Still, LSU isn’t taking this matchup lightly. Mississippi State’s backcourt, led by Epps and Josh Hubbard, has the firepower to flip a game quickly. Hubbard, in particular, is a proven scorer who’s been putting up 20+ points per game in SEC play.
“Mississippi State has a loaded backcourt,” McMahon said. “Hubbard’s a guy who has been a 20-plus point a game guy in this league for a long time. So you know the perimeter defense will have to be really on high alert.”
A Night at the PMAC
Wednesday’s game won’t just be about what happens between the lines. LSU is rolling out plenty of fan-friendly promotions to pack the Maravich Center.
Fans arriving before tipoff can take advantage of “Beat The Buzzer” deals on food and drinks from concession stands. The first 1,500 through the gates will also receive a mini replica of the iconic Shaquille O’Neal statue - a nod to one of LSU’s all-time greats.
And at halftime, speed painter Jessica Haas returns to the PMAC floor, bringing her high-energy artistry back to center stage. Her last performance featured a live painting of Mike the Tiger - this time, fans can expect another creative tribute to LSU’s spirit.
Looking Ahead
After Wednesday, LSU hits the road again, heading to Columbia for a Saturday showdown with South Carolina. That game - set for 5 p.m. CT on SEC Network and the LSU Sports Radio Network - marks the halfway point of the Tigers’ SEC slate before a much-needed bye week.
But first, it’s Mississippi State - a game that could help LSU reestablish its identity and build some second-half momentum. With the Tigers showing flashes of their early-season form and the Bulldogs looking to bounce back from a tough outing, expect a high-energy battle in Baton Rouge.