Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
By Hunt Palmer
THE STORY
Wednesday was a fitting end to LSU’s season.
A season marred by the absence of players was capped by Robert Miller’s for a violation of team rules. The defense was bad, allowing Kentucky to score 87 points on 50 percent shooting with only five turnovers. The offense was pretty good, scoring 82 on 50 percent shooting.
And LSU lost, 87-82.
The Tigers fought until the end, cutting the Kentucky lead to five with 49 ticks remaining, but it wasn’t enough. The Wildcats’ 12-1 run from the 10:41 mark of the second half to the 6:54 mark was sealed by a Brandon Garrison flush that sent the Bridgestone Arena blue-clad crowd into a frenzy. A one-point LSU lead had become 12.
That was probably the knockout.
Max Mackinnon was awesome. Jalen Reece played admirably. Micheal Nwoko notched a double-double. Marquel Sutton logged 36 minutes. Ultimately it was just never really good enough in SEC play.
Matt McMahon’s fourth season with the Tigers ends with a 15-17 overall record and a last place finish in the SEC (3-15). During his tenure at LSU, McMahon’s teams are a combined 60-70 and 17-55 in conference play. The team has failed to make the NCAA Tournament under McMahon and has just one NIT appearance.
THE STATS
Field Goals: Both teams 32-for-64 (50%)
3 PT: LSU 5-for-20 (25%); UK (6-for-22 (27%)
FT: LSU 13-for-20 (65%); UK (17-for-23 (74%)
LSU was 0-for-9 from three-point range after halftime
Max Mackinnon: 11-for-17 FG, 2-for-6 3 PT, 4-for-6 FT, 28 pts
Mike Nwoko: 5-for-9 FG, 6-for-8 FT, 16 pts, 12 reb
Bench Points: LSU 10; UK 29
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