On Saturday Night, it looked like the LSU Basketball team was headed toward another loss as they trailed Oklahoma by five points with 25 seconds remaining in the game. Cam Carter then willed the LSU Basketball team to victory, making a three pointer while drawing a foul before knocking down the free throw to make it a one point game. Curtis Givens then stole the ball after Cam Carter helped trap Oklahoma before Givens got the ball back to Carter who made the shot with a foul converting a three point play which earned LSU the win.
After losing the last seven games, the LSU Tigers desperately needed a win and the way in which LSU won only makes it better. The Tigers easily could've quit when they trailed by 13 points in the second half or when they trailed by ten in the first half. Instead, the Tigers reeled it in played their best stretch of basketball and leave Norman with a win.
The Tigers had everything in this game as every player gave the Tigers a massive impact in their own way. Cam Carter scored 29 points but, his ability to carry the offense when the game got late making massive shot after massive shot and while playing tough defense. Daimion Collins had his shoulder dislocated yet, he returned and scored 22 points which was a career high. Dji Bailey had to play Power Forward as Corey Chest missed the game and he stepped up in a massive way while leading the Tigers offense in the first half.
Following the game, Matt McMahon shared his thoughts on the game starting with his team's resilience.
"That’s the most important part. The players, they’ve been very resilient through some struggles here. Obviously disappointed in the results, but to keep fighting, to keep coming to work every day, and then to have it paid forward there in the second half with just a phenomenal performance and a gutsy performance. A lot of curveballs throughout the day today from a personnel standpoint. You know, you mentioned Daimion Collins, he dislocates his shoulder again in the second half and sits out a minute. He comes right back in and just keeps fighting through. Cam Carter, phenomenal. I thought Dji Bailey, you know, playing at the power forward spot for 39 minutes tonight was fantastic. You know those freshman guards grew up a lot. You know Curtis Givens, Vyctorius Miller, I thought they made some big time winning plays for us."Matt McMahon
In this game, the Tigers turned the ball over just nine times in this game which was a much improved mark over their other games in SEC Play. The biggest difference instead of the Tigers turnovers continuing they improved their ball security down the stretch and it was a massive reason why LSU was able to cut into Oklahoma's lead.
Matt McMahon spoke on the Tigers ball security and the difference it made down the stretch saying the following.
"Yeah, that was key. I mean you saw it early in the second half when we went down 13. You know, some bad turnovers. We got hurt in the painted area there. But credit to our players. I have to look back; I don’t remember a turnover in the last 12-13 minutes of the game. And then I’m sure we’ll talk about it, but man, what a performance by Cam Carter. You gotta find ways to win. I guess we were down 5 there with 25 seconds to go. And I think Coach (John) Brady said we finished the game on an 8-0 run in 20 seconds, which you don’t see every day. You know, just speaks to the resiliency of our players and their will to find a way to get the W."Matt McMahon
After the win, LSU moves to 13-12 on the season and 2-10 in SEC Play and while the record in the conference hasn't been great, the Tigers have been right in the mix in a few of these games before letting them slip away. Next up for LSU is South Carolina and given that the Gamecocks haven't won a game in SEC, the Tigers will need to add a win.
If LSU can beat the Gamecocks it could extend the winning streak and build momentum heading into an incredibly tough stretch to end the year. If the Tigers can pick up a few Quad One wins over some of these opponents it could put LSU back in the NCAA Tournament race.
The Sooners give LSU a second quad one win as Kansas State has moved to a Quad One win for the Tigers thanks to the Wildcats recent surge. The Tigers have an unbeaten record in Quad Three and Quad Four games meaning the Tigers have no losses that will truly hurt their resume. The main goal now for the Tigers will be winning a few SEC games before the SEC Tournament which could boost LSU's resume.