Kentucky Wildcats vs Louisiana State Tigers Match Player Stats On Jan 04, 2022

Tari Eason scored 13 points and No. 21 LSU used a 20-2 second-half run to take the lead for good against No. 16 and short-handed Kentucky in a 65-60 victory Tuesday night in Baton Rouge, La.

Xavier Pinson added 11 points and Brandon Murray scored 10 for the Tigers (13-1, 1-1 SEC).

Davion Mintz scored 16, Jacob Toppin 14 and Kellan Grady had 13 to lead the Wildcats (11-3, 1-1).

Kentucky point guard Sahvir Wheeler, who entered third in the country with an average of eight assists per game, was sidelined less than four minutes into the game after colliding with LSU's Efton Reid as Reid set a screen. Wheeler was helped to the locker room and did not return.

TyTy Washington Jr. missed much of the second half after he had to be helped to the locker room because of an apparent leg injury.

The second-half blitz gave LSU a 61-52 lead with 2:36 left, but Kentucky pulled within one point with 27 seconds left and stole the ball. But Pinson stole it back, fed Eason for a dunk and made another steal and dunked to complete the scoring.

Kentucky made three 3-pointers to start the second half scoring as it grabbed a 39-35 lead.

Murray's jumper ended the run, but Grady made his second and third 3-pointers of the half to give the Wildcats a 47-39 lead.

Eric Gaines made two 3-pointers during a 10-0 run that gave the Tigers a 51-50 lead.

Oscar Tshiebwe's dunk ended a scoring drought of more than six minutes for Kentucky, but LSU scored 10 straight points to take a 61-52 lead with 2:36 left.

The score was tied at 28 before Murray made a 3-pointer as LSU scored seven straight points. Toppin beat the buzzer with a corner jumper to give him the Wildcats' last 10 points as they got within 35-30 at halftime.

LSU dedicated its court to former coach Dale Brown, who compiled a record of 448-301 in 25 seasons and led the Tigers to the 1981 and 1986 Final Fours.

--Field Level Media