Texas is getting used to playing ranked teams as part of its first season in the Southeastern Conference.
The Longhorns (14-7, 3-5 SEC) have played four straight games and seven of the past eight against ranked opponents in league play. They will get a rare break in that department when they face LSU (12-8, 1-6) on Saturday in Baton Rouge, La.
Texas is coming off a tough 72-69 loss at No. 23 Ole Miss on Wednesday. The game featured 14 lead changes and 11 ties.
“It was an evenly played game down the stretch with anybody having a chance to get it done,” Texas coach Rodney Terry said. “We had really good execution to give ourselves a chance to win. We just came up a little short.”
Freshman Tre Johnson, who leads the SEC in scoring (19.0 points per game), paced the Longhorns with 22 points.
“We’ve been doing it by committee,” Terry said. “We don’t just lean on Tre.”
Arthur Kaluma returned from a one-game absence caused by a knee injury to score 12 points, grab a game-high seven rebounds and match his season high with four assists.
LSU is coming off an 87-74 home loss to No. 1 Auburn on Wednesday, which came on the heels of defeats to then-No. 11 Texas A&M and No. 4 Alabama.
“I thought our guys competed at a high level,” LSU coach Matt McMahon said, “but we’ve got to find ways somehow to quit turning the ball over so much.”
LSU committed 15 first-half turnovers, which helped Auburn open a 12-point halftime lead. The Tigers gave the ball away just five times after halftime but didn’t get closer than five points.
“It’s a challenge and I wish I had the solution at this point,” McMahon said.
LSU shot 50 percent from the floor in the second half and 47.1 percent for the game.
“When we’re at our best, we’re playing fast in transition and we’re really effective on the offensive glass,” said guard Cam Carter, who led the team with 24 points.
–Field Level Media
