The LSU Tigers lost to No. 5 Tennessee on Tuesday in a scrappy game. 

Both team’s offenses were not pretty, shooting only 41%. LSU and Tennessee shot 25% and 27% from beyond the arc. 

The one bright spot for LSU offensively was Freshman Vyctorius Miller who shot 54% from the field. Miller finished the first half with 10 points and ended the game with 17. 

Coach McMahon is pleased with the way Miller’s game is improving. 

“His first three starts I thought he took some really difficult shots,” McMahon said. “Therefore his efficiency wasn’t very good. But tonight he got higher quality looks and stepped up and knocked those down at a high, high level.” 

One of the problems tonight for the Tigers was the lack of rebounding. The Volunteers outrebounded the Tigers 44 to 28 and they converted 27 second chance points. 

McMahon believes the second chance differential was one of the significant reasons in the loss. 

“Their second chance points, I thought, ended up being the difference in the game,” McMahon said. 

With the season coming to a close, there is still a lot to play for. The Tigers want to focus on playing their brand of basketball. 

“I think foundation has to always be the same, relentless effort on every possession,” McMahon said. “Think you’ve got to be a great teammate, make the person next to you better. And then you got to have a competitive spirit and toughness.” 

The Tigers still have three more regular season games. Next up is No. 24 Mississippi State. LSU will head to Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville, Mississippi, to take on the Bulldogs on Saturday, March 1 at 2:30 p.m. CT.