GAINESVILLE, January 23, 2024 – The LSU Tigers face a tough test Tuesday night as they travel to Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center to take on the nationally-ranked University of Florida Gators. This marks the first of two road games this week for the Tigers.
Gators Riding High, Tigers Seek SEC Footing
Both teams enter the contest with identical 13-5 records, but Florida currently holds a stronger position in the Southeastern Conference standings.
- The University of Florida is tied for first in the SEC with a 4-1 record.
- LSU is 1-4 in conference play and looking for its second SEC win.
- Florida recently defeated Vanderbilt 98-94 in Nashville on Saturday.
- LSU secured a 78-70 victory over Missouri at home, showcasing improved rebounding.
Florida’s recent success includes consecutive wins against Georgia, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Vanderbilt. In their most recent outing, the Gators edged Vanderbilt 98-94 in Nashville on Saturday, fueled by strong performances from Reuben Chinyelu and Xaivian Lee, both of whom scored 20 points. Thomas Haugh contributed 18 points, Alex Condon added 16, and Isaiah Brown chipped in with 14 in a game where Florida, in Coach Todd Golden’s fourth year, shot 52.5 percent from the field.
Haugh currently leads the Gators in scoring, averaging 17.4 points per game. Condon follows with 14.4 points, while Chinyelu is averaging a double-double with 11.8 points and 10.7 rebounds.
The Gators dominated the boards against Vanderbilt, outrebounding them 40-26 and securing 22 second-chance points. They also converted 25 of 30 free throw attempts.
LSU, meanwhile, earned a 78-70 win over Missouri at the Maravich Center on Saturday. The Tigers led for an impressive 39 minutes and 32 seconds, opening the game with a 10-0 run and sealing the victory with clutch free throws in the final minute.
A key factor in LSU’s win was their rebounding performance, outboarding Missouri 35-30 with a 16-9 advantage on the offensive glass, leading to a 21-13 edge in second-chance points. The Tigers also connected on 10 three-pointers, their third game of the season reaching double digits from beyond the arc.
Marquel Sutton had his best scoring game as a Tiger, contributing 26 points, while Max Mackinnon continued his strong SEC play with 20 points. Mackinnon is currently leading the team in SEC scoring, averaging just under 20 points per game.
The status of point guard DJ Thomas Jr. will be updated on the SEC Availability Report at 7:10 p.m. Monday night. He remains “day-to-day” as he recovers from a left lower leg injury sustained before the start of SEC play on January 3.
Following Tuesday’s game, LSU will travel to Bud Walton Arena to face Arkansas on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Due to the Tuesday road game, the Matt McMahon radio show will be held on Wednesday at TJ Ribs on Acadian Thruway and broadcast on the LSU Sports Radio Network.
The game against Florida is scheduled to tip off just after 6 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on the SEC Network (Roy Philpott, Jon Crispin) and on the affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network (Guaranty Media flagship Eagle 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge), with Chris Blair and former LSU head coach John Brady calling the action.
