Kentucky @ Louisiana State preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 12, 2019 ) Louisiana State 73, Kentucky 71

No. 10 Kentucky narrowly avoided a loss in a weekend of upsets at the top of the SEC to take over first place and looks to remain in the driver’s seat when it visits LSU for another marquee matchup Tuesday night. While Auburn and LSU were losing to drop out of the top spot, the Wildcats scored the game’s final six points to turn back Ole Miss 67-62 on Saturday for their fourth straight win and eighth in nine contests.

Kentucky shot just 39 percent from the field and missed 20 of its 22 attempts from behind the 3-point arc against the Rebels, but made free throws and won the battle on the boards in a game coach John Calipari characterized as a rock fight. “That’s really what I think the tournament is all about,” Wildcats sophomore guard Immanuel Quickley told reporters. “You want to be at your best when the tournament time comes, but we hear all the stories about a bad shooting night in the tournament and you lose a game. Just knowing that we can still win games even when we’re not shooting (is great). Our defense can come through for us and travel.” LSU is riding a seven-game winning streak at home, but has lost three of four overall since its 8-0 start in SEC play after giving up 13 makes from 3-point range en route to an 88-82 setback at Alabama on Saturday. “If you look at the free-throw line, the difference was six points and the difference in the game was six points so that’s where we got beat,” Tigers coach Will Wade told reporters. “It’s really that simple.”

TIME: 9 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN

ABOUT KENTUCKY (20-5, 10-2 SEC): Quickley scored a team-high 17 points in the win over Ole Miss and is averaging 19.4 in the last five contests to boost his club-best mark to 15.0 overall, draining 38.7 percent of his shots from behind the arc. Junior forward Nick Richards added 16 points Saturday and is second on the team in scoring (14.6) while topping the Wildcats in rebounds (8.2), blocks (2.2) and sitting second in the SEC in field-goal percentage (66.0). Freshman guard Tyrese Maxey has picked it up in the last three games, averaging 18 points to push his season mark to 13.9 along with 2.9 assists per contest.

ABOUT LSU (18-7, 9-3): Senior guard Skylar Mays has led the way for the Tigers offensively of late, averaging 25.7 points on 23-of-40 from the field the last three games to go over 1,500 for his career and lead five players in double figures overall (16.5). Freshman Trendon Watford and sophomore Emmitt Williams give LSU strength in the paint by averaging 13.9 points apiece and combining for 14.1 rebounds per outing. Sophomore guard Javonte Smart scored 16 against Alabama and is averaging 15.8 points over the last five games to push his season mark to 12.5 while leading the team in assists (4.2).

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Kentucky sophomore G Ashton Hagans was just 3-for-11 from the field with four turnovers Saturday, but leads the SEC in assists (6.7).

2. LSU sophomore F Darius Days was held to six points by Alabama, but averages 11.8 overall while leading the team in rebounds (7.4).

3. Tigers junior G Charles Manning Jr. had two points and three rebounds in 16 minutes Saturday after missing a month with a foot injury.

PREDICTION: LSU 78, Kentucky 76