LSU Tigers Look to Rebound Against Ole Miss Rebels
The LSU men’s basketball team is set to face off against the Ole Miss Rebels in what promises to be an intriguing matchup this Wednesday night in Oxford. Both squads are eager to snap their respective losing streaks, with LSU dropping its last five and Ole Miss its last nine. Tip-off is scheduled for just after 8 p.m. at the Sandy and John Black Pavilion.
Despite recent losses, the Tigers have shown signs of resilience and improved play. With the team now adjusting to the absence of DJ Thomas following his surgery, LSU has demonstrated more cohesive basketball. This newfound synergy was evident in their recent clashes against Tennessee, Texas, and Alabama.
While victories have eluded them, LSU's performances in these games have been commendable. They rallied from a halftime deficit to take a lead against Tennessee, showcased a high-scoring second half against Texas, and mounted a late-game surge to narrow a 16-point deficit to just six against a strong Alabama team.
A key highlight for LSU has been their ball control, tying the single-game record for the fewest turnovers in the past 50 years with only three against Tennessee. Their shooting has also been on point, with back-to-back games of over 40 percent from beyond the arc.
Freshman point guard Jalen Reece has been pivotal, starting the last three games and logging impressive stats: 43 points, 21 assists, and a mere five turnovers over 116 minutes. His standout performance included nine assists against Texas.
Senior players have also stepped up, with Marquel Sutton scoring 21 points in each of the last two games and Pablo Tamba achieving his fourth double-double against Alabama.
On the other side, Ole Miss is aiming to recover from a 94-75 defeat to Florida. Malik Dia led the Rebels with 24 points in that game, while Ilisas Kamardine and Patton Pinkins contributed 14 and 10 points, respectively. Throughout the season, AJ Storr has been a consistent force for the Rebels, averaging 14.6 points per game.
LSU will return home this Saturday to face Oklahoma at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, hoping to build on their recent improvements and finish the season on a high note.