Louisiana State @ Auburn preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 9, 2019 ) Auburn 78, Louisiana State 83

No. 18 LSU looks to rebound after a shocking loss last time out and hold onto first place in the SEC on Saturday afternoon when it pays a visit to 10th-ranked Auburn, which has won five straight contests. LSU was rolling along with 10 consecutive victories - four of them on the road - before its lingering defensive deficiencies contributed to a 99-90 loss at last-place Vanderbilt on Wednesday.

“Our offense has usually been just good enough to bail us out and our trick defenses have been just good enough to bail us out,” LSU coach Will Wade told the Baton Rouge Advocate after the setback. “. … At some point, you’ve got to quit tricking people and just be able to sit down and guard your man. So, we’re going to have to figure something out between now and Saturday because Auburn watched that and they’re just licking their chops.” LSU knocked off visiting Auburn 83-78 last season with 20 points from Skylar Mays after dropping the previous three meetings in the series. Auburn has recovered from one rough week by running off five winning performances in a row - three by four points of fewer and two in overtime after edging host Arkansas 79-76 in the first extra session Tuesday by using its productive bench. “Depth, first and foremost,” coach Bruce Pearl told reporters of the reasons for his team’s ability to win close games. “We play nine guys on a regular basis. We’ve been able to wear people out.”

TIME: Noon ET. TV: ESPN

ABOUT LSU (17-5, 8-1 SEC): Mays tops the team in scoring (15.3) and the senior guard is third in the SEC in steals per game (2.0), while sophomore backcourt mate Javonte Smart totaled 36 points in the last two games to boost is season mark to 12.3 to go along with a club-best 4.4 assists. Sophomore forward Emmitt Williams is second on the team in scoring (14.2), including 18.7 the last three contests, and freshman forward Trendon Watford (14.0 points, 7.4 rebounds) is 33-for-52 from the field over the past five games. LSU leads the league in field-goal percentage (48.0), but is tied for 12th behind the arc (30.5).

ABOUT AUBURN (20-2, 7-2): Senior guard Samir Doughty has played a major role during the current streak, averaging 20.3 points over the last four contests to push his season mark to a team-high 15.5. Freshman Isaac Okoro (13.0 points) has scored 14 in three consecutive games while senior guard J’Von McCormick stepped up with 16 points at Arkansas on Tuesday and averages 11 to go along with a club-most 4.5 assists per outing. Senior center Austin Wiley (9.7 points, team-best 8.9 rebounds) did not score in 11 minutes against Arkansas, but senior forward Danjel Purifoy (9.6 points) scored in double figures for the fourth straight game with 10.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Auburn senior reserve F Anfernee McLemore is averaging 11.5 points over the last four games - 3.5 more than his season mark.

2. LSU sophomore F Darius Days contributes 11.4 points per game and shares the top spot on the team in rebounds (7.4) with Watford.

3. Auburn leads the league in rebounds per game (41.3) and LSU tops the SEC in rebound margin (plus-8.4).

PREDICTION: Auburn 76, LSU 72