Another year in LSU sports is coming to a close. It’s been a year of ups and downs, but there are definitely some performances that should be set apart from the rest. These are my best LSU sports moments from this year.
Football: Morris Claiborne and Tyrann Mathieu win national awards LSU should officially change its name to DBU. For the second straight year, an LSU defensive back won both the nation’s best defensive player and top defensive back award. After having one of the most impactful seasons in recent memory, sophomore Tyrann Matheiu took home the Chuck Bednarik award, while Claiborne was honored with the Jim Thorpe trophy.
Claiborne was selected with the No. 6 pick by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the NFL Draft a few weeks ago. But don’t worry, LSU fans will get at least one more year of watching the Honey Badger take what he wants.
Men’s basketball: Anthony Hickey’s last-second shot downs Mississippi State in OT Although the men’s basketball team didn’t get much love during the year, Cupid had something in store for the Tigers on Valentine’s Day.
After being down 17 points, LSU freshman point guard Anthony Hickey sunk a running floater with 1.4 seconds left in overtime to take down Mississippi State, 69-67.
The Tigers played such a terrible first half I didn’t think they would ever be able to make the game competitive, let alone come out with a “W.” The win secured LSU a spot in the NIT while putting a serious dent in Mississippi State’s NCAA tournament hopes.
Women’s basketball: Beating No. 6 Kentucky in the PMAC What a first season it was for the LSU women’s basketball team under coach Nikki Caldwell. The Lady Tigers returned to the NCAA tournament and won their first-round game.
The biggest victory of the season was the Lady Tigers’ win against No. 6 Kentucky on Feb. 5. With only nine players available, LSU was still able to limit Kentucky to a then season-low scoring output, stifling the Lady Wildcats, 61-51.
But more importantly, it was a start of a six-game Southeastern Conference winning streak for LSU.
Baseball: Coming back from five runs down to beat No. 1 Florida Not only was LSU able to come back from being down 7-3 in the third inning to beat the No. 1 team in the country, they did it without junior outfielder Raph Rhymes.
Freshman first baseman Tyler Moore cemented his spot at first base with his four-hit performance against the Gators. Junior pitcher Brent Bonvillain also made a name for himself, pitching four shutout innings in relief to give the Tigers a chance to come back.
Pulling out a huge victory like the Tigers did on the road to win a series against such a quality team as Florida will only help LSU when postseason play begins in a few weeks.
Top overall moment: Eric Reid’s interception against Alabama LSU vs. Alabama was billed as the “Game of the Century.” It didn’t disappoint.
It was only fitting that the top two teams in the country would give fans some free football after tying 6-6 at the end of regulation.
After Alabama missed a field goal on the first possession of overtime, LSU kicker Drew Alleman nailed a 25-yard strike through the uprights for the victory.
But Alleman wouldn’t have gotten the chance to make that field goal without safety Eric Reid’s interception late in the fourth quarter.
With Alabama within striking distance, Reid ripped the ball out of Alabama tight end Michael Williams hands on the Alabama goal line. If Williams had caught that ball, there’s not a doubt in my mind Alabama would have won that game. ____ Contact Micah Bedard at [email protected]