There are few must-win games in college basketball in January, but both Kentucky and LSU were in situations Wednesday that made losing very uncomfortable. Which makes what Malachi Moreno did all the more dramatic.
With 1.6 seconds left and Baton Rouge trailing 74-73, Kentucky passed the ball across the court to Moreno, who hit a reverse buzzer-beater to stun the home Tigers.
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Final score: Kentucky 75, LSU 74.
The loss was a hard blow for LSU, which led 38-22 at halftime and didn’t lead by nine points until 6:13. The team was still in good position to win when Kentucky’s Ortega Owe missed his second free throw with four seconds left, giving LSU a one-point lead, but then Pablo Tamba missed both free throws, opening the door for Moreno to win.
Ovi scored a Wildcat-high 21 points on 6-of-13 shooting, and Moreno had 10 points and 8 rebounds. Marquel Sutton and Max Mackinnon tied for LSU’s lead with 16 points each.
Kentucky was in trouble on the non-conference slate, entering the game with a 10-6 record and a 1-2 record in SEC play. LSU is 12-4 but 0-3 in SEC play. Neither team has any reason to believe they will make the NCAA Tournament, and LSU has even less room for error.
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The Tigers have now lost four straight games and face No. 19 Florida and No. 17 Arkansas next week. This is especially bad news for head coach Matt McMahon, who received a not-so-subtle message from athletic director Verge Aubserry earlier Wednesday via Tiger Rag:
“I’m going to support him. Matt McMahon is our coach,” Osbury said. “If he doesn’t make the (NCAA Tournament) … we’re going to have to reevaluate.”
Meanwhile, Kentucky has moved into a better position in the bubble but still needs more wins before it can begin planning for March Madness. Next up: the battle against No. 24 Tennessee.
