The LSU basketball team played sluggish and struggled offensively for 37 minutes, but a 15-1 run in the last 2:30 of regulation pushed the Tigers to a 86-80 win over Missouri in overtime. 
“What an escape job, thought we made some huge plays, the 1-3-1 helped us, that helped us set the tone,” LSU coach Will Wade said on postgame radio. “An incredible win, but we’ve used all of our mulligans now.”
Down 70-56 with just over two minutes remaining, junior guard Skylar Mays fueled LSU’s comeback, scoring the Tigers’ last nine points from the field before forward Emmitt Williams’ free throw tied the game to force overtime.
Freshman guard Javonte Smart hit two clutch three-pointers in overtime to contribute to the win. 
“It was a lot of guts, but that’s the type of player he is,” Mays said of Smart to LSUsports’ Cody Worsham. “We expect that out of him, just like he expects that out of himself. 
LSU (16-3, 6-0 Southeastern Conference) got out to a rough start as it struggled offensively, missing its first eight three-pointers as Missouri controlled the game for most of regulation. The frontcourt of Darius Days and Naz Reid got into foul trouble early, further contributing to the offensive struggles. 
LSU and Missouri traded shots for the first few minutes of the game, and were tied at seven points during the first media timeout. 
The Tigers still struggled to get into a rhythm offensively, while staying within reach of Missouri. 
LSU seemed to have no answer for Missouri guard Jordan Geist, who put up 25 points and 11 rebounds. 
LSU then went on a scoring drought lasting four minutes before forward Kavell Bigby-Williams scored on a dunk in transition with 7:45 left in the half cut Missouri’s lead to 23-18.
Things got worse for LSU when forward Emmitt Williams was charged with his second foul, forcing coach Will Wade to go with a smaller lineup with Marlon Taylor at the four-spot. 
LSU finally made a three around the 4:34 mark, when guard Tremont Waters sunk a corner three to leave the Tigers down 23-25. 
The Tigers fought back the final third of the first half to tie the game at 33 going into halftime. That was the second fewest LSU has scored in a half this season. 
Things seemed to be looking up for LSU as Reid sunk a corner three within the first few minutes of the second half, but that offensive rhythm did not continue.  
Both teams seemed even, with four lead chances to start the half, before Missouri pulled away. 
But halfway through the second half, LSU was down 51-43 — its largest deficit at that point of the game. The Tigers went on a three minute scoring drought, where they went 1-of-8 from the field and Missouri went 5-of-8. 
LSU completely broke down defensively, allowing Missouri to go on multiple runs in the second half. 
Despite being the SEC’s best scoring offensive, LSU shot 35 percent from the field and 28 percent from three-point range. 
During LSU’s run at the end of regulation, the defense also came into its own, limited Geist to no points after 9:28-mark of the second half and no points in overtime. 
“I danced a bit,” Wade joked. “It was a pretty happy locker room.”