Matt McMahon 'not counting on' Derek Fountain playing vs. Vanderbilt

The LSU basketball team pulled out a big win over Georgia in the opening round of the 2023 SEC Basketball Tournament, doing so without forward Derek Fountain, who missed the game with a shoulder injury.

Fountain was the team’s third-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder going into the SEC Tournament, and the Tigers remain hopeful he can return.

“We sure hope so, it’s a day to day injury suffered in practice earlier this week to his right shoulder,” coach Matt McMahon said. “Hope to have him back tomorrow night but not counting on it. We’ll see how he responds to treatment.”

Fountain has averaged 8.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, one of LSU’s top frontcourt presences for most of the season.

But the Tigers got by just fine against the Bulldogs on Wednesday night, pulling out a 67-61 win thanks, in large part, to the emergence of little-used forward Shawn Phillips.

Phillips helped made up for Fountain’s absence in a big way, mitigating the impact of the Derek Fountain shoulder injury.

Shawn Phillips emerges in SEC Tournament

As for Phillips, he went into Thursday night’s game having logged only 109 minutes all season. Against Georgia, Phillips saw 25 minutes and managed to record a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

“Shawn played big-time today, having his first career double-double, especially in the tournament,” LSU big KJ Williams said. “I try to take Shawn under my wing knowing what he can do, great player. I just tried to teach him what I know and he came out and performed tonight.”

The performance helped spark LSU in the second half after Georgia made a big run to overturn a 12-point halftime deficit.

But just when things were looking like they might turn south for the Tigers yet again, Phillips was there as a backstop, repeatedly coming up with clutch moments to save the day. He had played only 109 minutes all season before seeing 25 in the Georgia win.

“I’m really proud for him. He’s really grown as the season’s gone along,” McMahon said on the SEC Network after the game. “He’s not a stiff 7-footer. He can move.

“I thought he was really good in our ball screen offense there in the first half especially. And he just gives you a presence around the rim. I thought he had some big time plays, second chance opportunities. We were all probably a little nervous, he’s at the free throw line there. But he stepped up and knocked them down.”