Razorbacks roll by LSU in SEC Tournament opener, 79-67

March 11, 2022

TAMPA, Fla. – The No. 15/16 Arkansas Razorbacks used a late six-point run to the end first half before opening the second half on a 13-point run to set the stage for a 79-67 victory over LSU in the Hogs’ first game of the SEC Tournament on Friday afternoon inside Amalie Arena.

Defense dominated the first half of the third meeting between the two teams with teams shooting under 30% for the half. LSU’s Mwani Wilkinson made a jumper with just over a minute remaining in the half to give the Tigers a three-point lead. Chris Lykes, however, took over the final minute of the half – sinking four free throws and nailing a 2-pointer at the buzzer to end the half and shift all momentum to the Razorbacks.

Arkansas used that momentum out of the half to go on a 17-3 run over the first five and a half minutes to extend the lead out to 17. The Razorbacks’ smothering defense continued in the second half while the Hogs’ offense found their rhythm, shooting 60.7%, led by JD Notae’s 14 second-half points.

Overall, Arkansas held LSU to just 35.3% shooting which is the sixth-lowest by a Razorback opponent at the SEC Tourney and the lowest since hold Vanderbilt to 30.4% in 2017.

Au’Diese Toney paced Arkansas with 22 points and 10 rebounds in his return from an injury. It was his sixth career double-double and third as a Razorback. Toney was one of three Hogs to reach double digits with Notae adding 19 and Lykes 18 off the bench. Jaylin Williams led all players with 11 rebounds while scoring six points.

SEC Sixth Man of the Year Tamari Eason led the Tigers with 15 points but was held to just one rebound.

The victory advances the Razorbacks into tomorrow’s semifinal match-up with Texas A&M, who upset top-seeded Auburn earlier in the day. The Razorbacks and Aggies will tip off tomorrow at noon on ESPN.

FIRST HALF: Arkansas: 29 – LSU: 26

Arkansas scored first and took a 10-4 lead into the first media timeout (15:13).
LSU tied the game at 17-17 with 7:30 left and later took its first lead, 18-17 on a Darius Days free throw.
Arkansas regained the lead with 22 second left. Chris Lykes was fouled and made one free throw before a technical foul was called on LSU head coach Will Wade. Lykes made both of those free throws and made his second free throw from him being fouled for a 27-26 lead.
On the ensuing possession, Lykes stole the ball and sank a jumper at the left elbow for a 3-point halftime lead.
Au’Diese Toney led Arkansas with 12 first-half points and six rebounds. Lykes added seven off the bench. Toney and Lykes were both 5-of-6 at the foul line.
The defenses ruled the first half. Arkansas held LSU to 29.2% shooting and just 1-of-8 from 3-point range. Arkansas shot just 24.1% (2-of-12 from deep).

SECOND HALF: Arkansas: 50 – LSU: 41

Arkansas scored the first five points of the second half to force a quick LSU timeout. Overall, Arkansas scored the first 13 points of the second half until an Eric Gaines free throw at 16:08.
Arkansas pushed the run to 17-3 after two JD Notae free throws to lead 46-29 with 14:23 left.
LSU got to within 11 (53-42 with 8:26 left) before a Chris Lykes jumper at the free throw line and a deep 3-pointer by JD Notae to lead 58-42 and force an LSU timeout at 7:33.
LSU trimmed its deficit to nine twice inside the final five minutes, the last being 64-55 with 4:21 left. However, Lykes drained a 3-pointer and a jumper to put the Hogs up 14 with 2:28 left to help secure the win.
Arkansas out-rebounded the Tigers 20-9 in the second half.
Arkansas scored 50 second-half points. It was the second time this year to reach 50 in a half – scoring 53 in the first half at Georgia – and the 15th time in the Eric Musselman era.

GAME NOTES

Arkansas’ starting lineup was JD Notae – Au’Diese Toney – Stanley Umude – Trey Wade – Jaylin Williams for the 15th game (14-1).
LSU won the opening tip.
Au’Diese Toney scored the first points of the game, a 3-pointer from the right corner at 18:21.
Davonte Davis was the first Razorback sub.
Arkansas improves to 16-2 all time in the SEC quarterfinals and is 3-3 versus LSU in the SEC Tourney.
Arkansas defeated LSU in all three meetings this season.
Au’Diese Toney’s 22 points were his most as a Razorback. His career high is 27 while at Pitt (vs Duke in 2020).
JD Notae finished with 19 points thanks to making 10-of-13 at the line Both free throw totals are his second-best career efforts as he was 11-of-14 vs Auburn earlier this year.
Notae only needs five points for 1,000 as a Razorback. He would become the sixth Razorback to score 1,000 points in a two-year span. Overall, Notae has now scored 1,924 points.
Coach Musselman is now 48-10 as a collegiate head coach – 19-3 at Arkansas – when having at least four days rest between games.
With 11 rebounds, Jaylin Williams now has 308 for the season to rank 5th on the school’s single-season list – two shy of 4th.
Arkansas scored 50 second-half points. It was the fourth time this year to reach 50 in a half and the 15th time in the Eric Musselman era.

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