The LSU Basketball team came into Saturday Night looking to snap a five game losing streak as the 25th ranked Ole Miss Rebels came to Baton Rouge. For most of the game, LSU looked in position to pick up its biggest win of the year, then disaster struck the Tiges.
The first half was exactly what Matt McMahon has been looking for all season as the Tigers' offense was completely balanced with every player scoring except for Jordan Sears. The Tigers were able to limit their turnovers turning it over just twice while winning the rebounding battle by 7. The well-balanced offense allowed the LSU Basketball team to take a lead into halftime for the first time in SEC play.
The second half started off perfectly for LSU as the Tigers stretched the lead to double digits but, the rest of the way it was a nail biter. The Rebels came storming back nearly tying the game at the 10 minute point of the half. As soon as Ole Miss cut the lead to 2, LSU started to attack the Rebels on the interior stretching the lead back out to double digits.
The Tigers led 70-59 with just about 3 minutes left in the game just needing a few baskets to put the game away. Instead, the Tigers did it all, turning the basketball over, missing layups, missing free throws, and didn't get a stop allowing Ole Miss to tie the game with the ball for the final shot. The Tigers got Sean Pedulla to miss his game winning attempt however, no one boxed out and the Rebels got the tip in to fall stunning the Tigers.
There is no excuse for what the LSU Basketball team did down the stretch as its indefensible to blow a lead that big, late, and at home. Matt McMahon deserves a massive chunk of the blame, his team looked clueless in the final three minutes allowing Ole Miss to take advantage of a lack of situational advantage.
In this game, LSU showed a lack of control taking a pointless flagrant foul and a pointless technical giving Ole Miss eight points which cost them the game.
In a season of lows, this is far and away the lowest moment of the Matt McMahon era just a week after Texas demolished LSU in the PMAC. Coming into the season, it seemed there was no chance the Tigers would move on from Matt McMahon. As LSU continues to look outmatched and at times unprepared, it's going to be a conversation down the end of the season as McMahon may not be the man for the job.