LSU does it once again, stuns No
Feb 22, 2024, 12:03 AM ET BATON ROUGE, La.– While LSU’s Tyrell Ward was mobbed on the court by joyous fans, consisting of women’s basketball star Angel Reese, Kentucky coach John Calipari and the Wildcats might just see the celebration while awaiting a quick video evaluation of the frenzied, last-second sequence that did them in.Ward topped a 17-point performance with a short floater as time ended, and LSU took out a second straight resurgence victory over a ranked team with a 75-74 victory over No. 17 Kentucky on Wednesday night.
“We wanted it more than them, plain and easy,” Ward said. “I would definitely say we’re finding more methods to win.”
The Wildcats nearly sealed a remarkable, last-minute return when Adou Thiero obstructed Jordan Wright’s driving shot in the final seconds. Wright was able to push the ball back up in front of the rim, where Ward leaped to get the ball and rapidly launch his decisive shot before he came down.Editor’s Picks
“Adou obstructs it; I got to enjoy the tape and say, ‘Who did not get that ball– the winning ball– who didn’t get it and why?'” Calipari said. “Why not dive on the floor? Simply connect it up and we win the game.”
Calipari lamented that an inability to secure a variety of loose balls cost his team the game.
“That’s all we speak about,” Calipari stated. “If you’re not going to come up with 50-50 balls, you can’t win. … They toughed us for those balls, which were the difference.”
Ward’s basket sent out pleased fans putting onto the floor as gatekeeper scrambled to rope off an area around both benches in an effort to decrease mingling in between viewers and the teams.Reese tossed her arms around Ward’s shoulders as she hopped joyously beside him, however Ward said he didn’t recognize she was there. “I blacked out as soon as
the shot entered, “Ward said. “I can’t remember. I didn’t understand absolutely nothing that was going on.”Wright and Jalen Reed each
scored 13 points for LSU (14-12, 6-7 Southeastern Conference), which erased a 15-point 2nd half deficit versus Kentucky. Wednesday’s success came one game after the Tigers got rid of a 16-point second-half deficit in a 64-63 victory at then-No. 11 South Carolina on Saturday.According to ESPN Stats & Details research study, LSU is the first team in SEC history to win consecutive games by precisely one point and versus AP-ranked teams.” So proud of our players,” LSU second-year coach Matt McMahon stated.
“Over the last week, we’ve seen the strength that we need to have fun with. I think it needs to be the foundation of your program. “We really came together as a group and discovered methods to get it done,”he added. “It’s an unique week, certainly something we can build on. “Antonio Reeves scored 25 points for Kentucky( 18-8, 8-5), which has now
stumbled to 5 losses in its previous 9 games. Rob Dillingham scored 22 of his 24 points in the 2nd half. His driving scoop as he was fouled with 53 seconds left, followed by his pullup jumper on the standard with 13 seconds left, briefly gave the Wildcats a 74-73 lead.” The last minute was not a work of art, however that’s on me and the guys found a way to win anyway,”McMahon said.Kentucky closed the first half on a 12-1 run throughout which Reeves struck a 3 and fast-break layup.
Justin Edwards’3 provided the Wildcats a 36-27 lead at the break.Kentucky opened the second half with consecutive threes by Edwards and Reeves to make it 42-27, however Derek Fountain’s layup quickly after fired up a 21-4 LSU run that included successive threes by Wright and ended with back-to-back layups by Reed and Hunter Dean to put the Tigers up 48-46. Reed Sheppard disrupted the spurt with a layup while being fouled and finished the 3-point play, but the game was tight from
then on.The Associated Press added to this report.