Jordan Wright scored a game-high 27 points, three teammates joined him in double figures and LSU defeated No. 22 Ole Miss 89-80 on Wednesday night in Baton Rouge, La.
Jalen Cook added 16 points, Tyrell Ward scored 11 and Mike Williams III had 10 for the Tigers (11-6, 3-1 SEC).
Jaylen Murray scored 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting, Allen Flanigan scored 20, Matthew Murrell had 19 before fouling out and Jaemyn Brakefield added 13 points and nine rebounds before also fouling out for Ole Miss (15-2, 2-2).
LSU outshot the Rebels from the floor (48.3 percent-36.9 percent) and on 3-pointers (47.6 percent-25 percent).
Wright had a 3-pointer and a three-point play to begin the second-half scoring and give the Tigers a 41-33 lead.
LSU led by eight points on four more occasions before Ward made a 3-pointer to increase the lead to 54-44 with 12:05 to play. He quickly hit another trey to expand the cushion to 57-46.
Murrell made two free throws, but Ward had yet another 3-pointer during a 7-0 run that expanded the Tigers’ lead to 64-48 midway through the half.
Murrell scored five consecutive points to start an 11-2 run that pulled the Rebels within 68-62 with 5:17 left.
Cook responded with a three-point play and Wright made a layup to start a 7-0 run that gave LSU a 77-62 lead.
Ole Miss scored the next 10 points to get within five with 1:41 left, before Williams made a 3-pointer and the Tigers held on.
Murray made a 3-pointer to start the scoring two minutes into the game and he scored the first nine points for the Rebels, who didn’t trail until just over five minutes remained in half.
The Tigers got within two points on five occasions, but Ole Miss had an answer each time and opened a 24-17 lead when Murrell made a jumper and a 3-pointer.
Reed made a 3-pointer to pull LSU even at 24, and the score was tied once more before the Tigers took their first lead at 28-27 after Wright made two free throws.
The lead changed hands four more times, the last coming when Cook’s 3-pointer sent the Tigers into halftime with a 35-33 edge.
–Field Level Media
