Louisiana State @ Arkansas preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 8, 2020 ) Arkansas 77, Louisiana State 79

LSU hasn't won back-to-back games since bursting out of the SEC gates 8-0 but has another opportunity to do so when it visits Arkansas on Wednesday. The Tigers are tied for second in the conference with No. 15 Auburn after a 64-50 victory over Texas A&M on Saturday and are on the verge of earning a double-bye in the SEC Tournament, where winning consecutive games is a must in order to succeed.

"Our challenge is to play good games back-to-back because guess what, we're gonna have to start playing games back-to-back when we get to tournament play or we're gonna be done real quick," LSU coach Will Wade told Sports Illustrated. "We just need to stay consistent and be detail oriented." Arkansas had its two-game winning streak snapped with a 99-89 loss at Georgia on Saturday and appears destined for a first-round game in the conference tourney. "We just have to worry about the next game,'' Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman, whose team probably has to win the SEC Tournament to reach the NCAAs, told reporters. "We have to figure out how to play with more intensity against LSU." The Tigers have won four of the last five meetings after a thrilling 79-77 victory Jan. 8 was highlighted by a pair of three-point plays by freshman forward Trendon Watford in the final 32 seconds.

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: SEC Network

ABOUT LSU (20-9, 11-5 SEC): All five starters score in double figures with Skylar Mays leading the way at 16.2 points after the senior guard scored 24 and grabbed eight rebounds Saturday. Watford contributes 13.6 points and 7.1 rebounds while sophomore forward Darius Days provides 11.7 points and a team-high 7.2 boards, helping the Tigers boast a plus-6.5 rebounding margin. Sophomore guard Javonte Smart (12.4 points) averages a club-best 4.1 assists but hasn't reached that number in the last three games while sophomore forward Emmitt Williams (13.4 points, 6.7 rebounds) scored three against Texas A&M after exploding for 25 in an 81-66 loss at Florida on Feb. 26.

ABOUT ARKANSAS (18-11, 6-10): Junior guard Mason Jones paces the conference at 21.3 points per game after scoring 37 in an 86-69 victory over Tennessee on Feb. 26 and 26 against Georgia. Jones leads the nation in made free throws (207) and free-throw attempts (250) and earned his SEC record-tying fourth Player of the Week award this season Monday, joining Vanderbilt's Shan Foster (2007-08) and Kentucky’s Jodie Meeks (2008-09) as the only players to do so. Sophomore guard Isaiah Joe (16.9 points) has averaged 23 in three games since missing five - all Razorback losses - with a knee injury.and forms the conference's top scoring duo with Jones.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Mays and Joe are among the 10 finalists for the Jerry West Award, given to the nation's top shooting guard.

2. Arkansas led the SEC and was ninth nationally entering Tuesday in turnover margin at plus-4.7.

3. The Tigers are 4-4 in one or two-point games this season.

PREDICTION: LSU 79, Arkansas 77