Tigers avoid disaster, storm back to beat Prairie View

December 22, 2025: during NCAA Basketball action between the Prairie View A&M Panthers and the LSU Tigers at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, LA. Michael Bacigalupi

By Hunt Palmer

THE STORY

Monday’s scare won’t register come March, but it was frightening for 30 minutes.

Prairie View A&M, a team with one Division 1 win to its credit, lit up the Maravich Center for a half and led LSU by 10 in the second half. Ultimately, LSU’s offense and strength were too much for the upset-minded Panthers, and the Tigers surged ahead for a 104-90 win.

The Tigers took the lead with 12:42 t0 play on a Marquel Sutton bucket. Prairie View never led again.

It was a parade to the free throw line as the Tigers set a school record for makes, breaking a record that stood for exactly 46 years. LSU made 41 that December 22nd in 1976 against Tulane. Monday, December 22, 2025, LSU made 43 on a Panther defense that simply couldn’t stop LSU from driving.

Is that sustainable against an SEC team? It’s not. Was it necessary on Monday? It was.

Prairie View committed 31 fouls and had two players foul out.

As for how they got a lead, it was the three ball. Prairie View, which entered the game No. 324 of 365 in three-point shooting percentage, drilled 10 first half threes on 13 attempts for 77 percent.

Baton Rouge native Tai’reon Joseph made five of his six tries before halftime. He buried his first look of the second half to put the Panthers up eight. But that was the end of the sizzling shooting. Prairie View missed seven of its last eight from deep as LSU seized control.

Notably, much of that Tiger run came with Dedan Thomas Jr. on the bench and Jalen Reece running the point. The freshman played 13 second half minutes and had pair of assists without a turnover.

This would have been the worst loss of the Matt McMahon era. Full stop. Prairie View is probably the worst team on LSU’s schedule. However, to LSU’s credit, they stayed patient and kept driving. The offensive skills took over. When the dust settled, it was a 14-point win that no one nationally will speak of again.

LSU has to guard the three point line better. Texas Tech and Prairie View got way, way too many good looks from deep early in those games. Sometimes teams will get hot, but you’ve got to put a stop to it. LSU really couldn’t.

The Tigers are 11-1 and have one more landmine to jump against Southern Miss before league play opens.