LSU talks win over Ole Miss, improving to 3-1 in SEC play

LSU picked up a key home win on Wednesday night over Ole Miss, 89-80. A strong outing from Jordan Wright led the way, ending with 27 points, on 9-of-16 shooting in the win. LSU improves to 3-1 in SEC play and 5-2 since the return of Jalen Cook as the Tigers are hitting their stride.

Here’s what head coach Matt McMahon, Wright, and wing Tyrell Ward said after the game.

LSU head coach Matt McMahon

Opening Statement

“Really fired up for our team. Proud of their effort and toughness that they showed on the court tonight. A great atmosphere with well over 1,000 students here tonight. Great energy in the endzone and from the fans that were here. Ole Miss has a terrific team. They are 15-1 for a reason. They have great talent and play extremely hard. I thought in the second half, minus the free-throw line, our defense was terrific. We had 32% from the floor. We were really concerned with Ole Miss being one of the top three-point shooting teams in the country, over 40%, which you do not see too often. We held them to six of 24, which is 25% there. I thought our offensive execution in the second half, minus a few possessions at the end of the game, was just terrific. We were five-of-eight from the three in the second half and 55% from the floor. The guys did a great job at making free throws.” 

On the offense in the second half…

“We wanted to get off to a great start since we got the ball first at the beginning of the half. Will Baker set a great screen and Jalen Reed hits Jordan Wright for a three at the top of the key. We were able to string some stops together. I thought we were able to create high-quality shots. We were not turning the ball over in that stretch. In the first half we had nine turnovers and in the second half we had a couple there late, that we wish we could get back, but we finished the half. When the game was on the line, we had three turnovers in that 17-minute stretch. I thought overall the unselfishness, screening, and physicality that we played with on the offensive side made a difference. The guys must ultimately make the shots and the plays, and they certainly stepped up and did that.”

On what this win means for the team…

“1-0 tonight. That is what we always say. It is 18 one-game seasons. The league is ridiculous with how good the teams are. I think that every win is important. Was this a must-win game? Every game is a must-win game. I thought the energy, effort, and togetherness that our players played with is a step in the right direction for us. It’s a big win against a top-25 team. They have earned that from the games that they have put together over the course of the season. We must quickly turn the page and get ready for A&M. We need a great crowd and atmosphere.”

LSU guard Jordan Wright 

On playing in front of the city he grew up in…

“It was great. This was my favorite game so far. The best game I’ve played in an LSU uniform. The atmosphere was electric tonight. The students and fans really came out and supported us. I am excited for the rest of the season. The support tonight was incredible. This is exactly what I wanted and the reason I came back. I wanted this to play in this type of environment and win these types of games against a top-25 opponent. It was incredible.”

On being more aggressive in the second half…

“Yeah. The first five minutes in the second half were critical. We wanted to come out and have good momentum going into the half. Coach (Matt McMahon) called a couple of plays for me, and it was my job to make the plays. Credit to him for calling those plays and getting me going right there. It was very important for us to get going at the very beginning of the second half, and you saw how it carried us throughout the rest of the game.”

LSU forward Tyrell Ward

On his spark in the second half and his shooting ability…

“When we are not really feeling it on the offensive end, I feel like I can be that spark that can get us back going. That is what happened tonight when we went on that run.”

On what was going on in their heads during the end of the Auburn game and during the last few practices…

“In this league, you cannot let two losses pile up, especially back-to-back. We said at the beginning of the year that we did not want to lose at home. We had two really great days of practice, and we knew that we were prepared.”