LSU gets buzzer-beating win over No. 17 Kentucky

Field Level Media|published: Wed 21st February, 23:39 2024

Feb 21, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers guard Mike Williams III (2) dribbles against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half of the game at Pete Maravich Assembly Center. credits: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Tyrell Ward scored 17 points and made a game-winning follow-up hoop at the buzzer as LSU defeated No. 17 Kentucky 75-74 on Wednesday night in Baton Rouge, La.

Jordan Wright and Jalen Reed added 13 points each for the Tigers (14-12, 6-7 Southeastern Conference), who beat a ranked team for the second time in five days after upsetting then-No. 11 South Carolina on Saturday.

Antonio Reeves scored 25 points and Rob Dillingham put up 21 of his 23 in the second half to lead the Wildcats (18-8, 8-5). Kentucky lost for the fourth time in seven games.

Dillingham's 3-pointer pulled Kentucky even at 67 with 2:32 to go. The score was tied again before Will Baker's 3-pointer gave the Tigers a 72-69 lead with 1:33 left.

Reed added a free throw before Dillingham's three-point play got Kentucky within 73-72 with 53 seconds left.

After an LSU turnover, Dillingham made a jumper to give the Wildcats a one-point lead with 13 seconds left.

Wright had a jumper rejected, but he grabbed the rebound and lobbed the ball into the lane. Ward caught it and sank a buzzer-beating 3-footer.

Justin Edwards and Reeves made consecutive 3-pointers to start the second-half scoring and give the Wildcats a 15-point lead.

LSU's Derek Fountain and Trae Hannibal made layups to trim the lead to 11.

Reeves made two free throws before Fountain dunked. Ward made a 3-pointer and Wright sank two treys to complete a 15-2 run that cut the deficit to 44-42.

Hunter Dean's layup gave LSU its first lead of the second half before Reed Sheppard's three-point play put Kentucky back on top.

The Tigers scored the next six points before the Wildcats regained the lead at 58-57. LSU subsequently opened a 66-62 lead.

Earlier, Wright made a 3-pointer to give LSU a 19-16 lead, but the Tigers have another field goal for more than six minutes before Wright's jumper tied the score at 24.

Ward's jumper gave LSU a two-point lead before Sheppard made a jumper to tie the score with the Wildcats' first points in nearly five minutes.

Hannibal made one of two free throws to break the tie, but LSU didn't score in the final two minutes.

Reeves and Edwards each made a 3-pointer during a 10-0 finishing run that gave Kentucky a 36-27 halftime lead.

—Field Level Media