LSU Pulls Out 79-77 Victory over Razorbacks

January 8, 2020

BATON ROUGE, La. – In a game that featured 19 lead changes – including eight inside the final five minutes – LSU’s old-fashion 3-point play with eight seconds left proved to be the difference in a 79-77 victory over Arkansas Wednesday night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Arkansas ended a 4:12 scoring drought when Jimmy Whitt Jr., hit a jumper in the lane with 38 seconds left to give Arkansas a 74-73 lead. LSU answered with an old-fashion 3-point play by Trendon Watford to go up two, 76-74, with 32 ticks left. Isaiah Joe came right back with an “and-one” of his own and a one-point Razorback lead with 21 seconds remaining.

Adrio Bailey blocked the first Tigers shot attempt with 12 seconds left. However, the ball went out of bounds and LSU retained possession. LSU then got the ball to Watford, who converted the third old-fashion three-point play in three possessions for a two-point advantage.

Arkansas’ final shot attempt was blocked to give LSU to win.

Statistically, Arkansas was dominated in several key categories but used its tough defense and resiliency to stay in the game.

LSU out-rebounded Arkansas 53-24. LSU had 23 offensive rebounds and had 26 second-chance points compared to Arkansas’ three offensive rebounds and zero second-chance points.
LSU was 21-of-28 at the free throw line. Arkansas was 17-of-18.
Arkansas only committed seven turnovers, had eight steals and four blocked shots. LSU committed 13 turnovers and only had one steal.
Arkansas shot 44.8% from the field, compared to LSU’s 40.9%.
Arkansas scored 15 points off turnovers, compared to 10 by LSU, and had 16 fastbreak points, compared to four by the Tigers.

Watford finished with 21 points and eight rebounds to lead the Tigers. Skylar Mays added 19 points while Darius Days had a double-double (16 points and 16 rebounds).

Arkansas was led by Mason Jones (24 points) and Whitt (22).

Arkansas stays on the road to face Ole Miss Saturday (Jan. 11). Tipoff is set for 5 pm and the game will be telecast on the SEC Network.

FIRST HALF: Arkansas 40 – LSU 37

Arkansas scored first and grabbed two early four-point leads. However, the Tigers kept it close and tied the game, 17-17, at 11:38.
Arkansas used a 12-0 run to take an 11-point lead (35-24) at 4:05 and force an LSU timeout. The run was capped by an old-fashion 3-point play by Adrio Bailey and a long 3-pointer by Mason Jones.
LSU answered with a 13-5 run to end the half to cut the Tigers’ deficit to three, 40-37.
Mason Jones led the Razorbacks with 15 points and Jimmy Whitt added 12.
The Razorbacks shot 51.6% from the field and held LSU t 38.4%. However, the Tigers grabbed 10 of their 25 rebounds on the offensive end and were 8-of-12 at the free throw line. Arkansas was just 3-of-3at the line and had just 13 rebounds, including zero on the offensive end.

SECOND HALF: Arkansas 37 – LSU 42.

LSU opened the second half on a 14-4 run and led 51-44 at 15:36.
Arkansas battled back with a 14-7 run to tie the game, 58-58, on an Isiah Joe steal and fastbreak layup at 11:17.
LSU pushed its lead to six (66-60) with 7:44 left. Arkansas answered with s 10-3 run to go up one, 70-60, at the 5:27 mark.
Jimmy Whitt made two free throws with 4:50 left to give Arkansas a one-point lead (72-71). That would be Arkansas’ last points until Whitt hit a jumper with 38 seconds left. However, LSU only scored once over the four-minute span.

GAME NOTES

Arkansas’ starting lineup was Jimmy Whitt (G) – Isaiah Joe (G) – Desi Sills (G) – Mason Jones (G) – Adrio Bailey (F) for the 13th time this season.
Arkansas won the tip. It was the seventh time in 14 games Arkansas won the tip. Arkansas is 5-2 in such games.
Razorback Mason Jones scored the first points of the game, a 3-pointer on the right wing at 19:34. He has scored Arkansas’ first points six times (Arkansas is 5-1) and the games’ first points overall five times (Arkansas is 4-)1.
Arkansas led at halftime and is now 10-1 in such games. In fact. This was just the fifth time in 98 games Coach Musselman has lost as a collegiate head coach.
Mason Jones led the team in scoring for the seventh time this season (Arkansas is 6-1 in such games) and for the 17th time in his two seasons (Arkansas is 13-4 in such games).
Adrio Bailey had four blocked shots – one shy of his career high. However, the four is his most in an SEC game with the previous best being two on two occasions.
Bailey also had seven rebounds, his best effort in an SEC game.
Jimmy Whitt’s 22 points were his best versus SEC competition.
Whitt is the first Razorback to play all 40 minutes of a regulation game since Julysses Nobles accomplished the feat versus Louisville (11/17/09).

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