Not only did LSU’s porous defense let the Tigers down in Wednesday’s 73-65 loss to Arkansas, it was a normal team strength that also did the Tigers in.
LSU (12-4, 1-3 Southeastern Conference) was outrebounded by the Razorbacks (6-9, 1-3 SEC), being dominated completely by Arkansas to the tune of 44 rebounds for Arkansas to just 22 for the Tigers.
It was the second consecutive SEC loss for LSU, who fell to Ole Miss at the PMAC on Saturday. Arkansas broke a five-game losing streak with the win.
Head coach John Brady’s Tigers came into the game averaging a plus 6.5 rebound differential on the season, but the Hogs, who were averaging a plus 7.7 rebound margin, were able to defeat the Tigers soundly in the ever-so-important game of the glass.
Also, LSU’s defense, which has been a staple of Brady coached teams, struggled for the fourth-straight SEC game, allowing Arkansas to shoot just below 50 percent from the field, including 9-of-18 from the three-point line.
Coming into the game, the Razorbacks were shooting 39.8 percent from the field and 28 percent from behind the arc.
The contest opened up with each team trading baskets until the 12-minute mark in the first half with neither club opening up any larger of a lead than four points.
At that point, the Razorbacks went on a 8-0 run, capped by a Blake Eddins three-point basket.
However, LSU then went on an 18-9 run, and at the half led by a score of 38-37.
The second half opened in much the same way the first half did, with both LSU and Arkansas trading scores, when the Razorbacks took a 47-46 lead with 12:05 remaining in the game.
But the Hogs went on a 9-4 run and shot out to a six-point lead with 9:40 remaining.
From there, the closest LSU could pull to the Razorbacks was 56-54, and the Tigers could not hit the broad side of a barn.
Sophomore guard Antonio Hudson led the Tigers in scoring with 18 points, and Jaime Lloreda chipped in with 13 points and 6 rebounds.
The Razorbacks were led by Eric Ferguson, who turned in a season-high 19 points, and Michael Jones, who added 16.