Missouri @ Louisiana State preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 26, 2019 ) Louisiana State 86, Missouri 80

Last week was the toughest week for LSU, as the Tigers dropped two conference games, dropped out of the national rankings and find their way in a three-way tie for the SEC lead with Kentucky and Auburn. LSU looks to get back to work of winning the regular-season title Tuesday when it travels to play Missouri.

LSU rolled through the first half of the SEC season with eight consecutive wins until getting upset 99-90 by a struggling Vanderbilt team last Wednesday before losing a crazy 91-90 overtime decision at Auburn on Saturday. "Everybody goes through it, it's not always smooth, and that's just the way it goes," LSU coach Will Wade said Monday. "It's a sprint these last eight games to see who can be disciplined enough and who can win every day. We just have to focus on the day. We need to have a great day today and get ready for a good Missouri team that's given us fits." Missouri, which is coming off a home 83-79 win in overtime versus Arkansas on Saturday, is looking for its first ever win in Baton Rouge on its fifth trip. Missouri sophomore Xavier Pinson led the Tigers in their win over Arkansas with a career-high 24 points.

TIME: 9 p.m. ET. TV: SEC Network

ABOUT LSU (17-6, 8-2 SEC): Skylar Mays (15.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists) posted his second 30-point game of the season, but Auburn's J'Von McCormick's short floater in the lane dropped through with 0.1 second remaining in overtime to give No. 11 Auburn the win. Darius Days (11.7 points, 7.3 rebounds) added 19 points for LSU, which came back to take the lead in the closing seconds after being down by seven with 1:51 left in overtime. Javonte Smart (12.3 points, 4.3 assists) is averaging 15 points in conference games and Emmitt Williams (14.0 points, 7.0 rebounds) shoots a team-best 58.4 percent from the floor in all games.

ABOUT MISSOURI (11-12, 3-7): Pinson (8.6 points), who scored 17 points after halftime, is averaging 15 points over his last four contests, leading the team in scoring three times. He also added a season-best seven rebounds and three assists against Arkansas, becoming just the fourth Tiger to tally at least 24 points, seven boards and three assists in a game since 2010. Javon Pickett (7.5 points) added 14 points and six rebounds as Missouri improved to 7-0 when the sophomore reaches double figures.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. LSU has won seven of nine meetings between the schools and all four games played in Baton Rouge. Last year, LSU came from 14 points down with just over two minutes left in regulation to force overtime and win 86-80 in Columbia.

2. LSU F Charles Manning (8.0 points, 3.1 rebounds), the Tigers' best perimeter defender, will not play due to an injury.

3. Missouri ranks second in the SEC during league play in turnovers forced per game (14.7). Since Dec. 7, opponents are giving the ball up 15.6 times per game.

PREDICTION: LSU 84, Missouri 70