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Jordan Wright scores 27, leads LSU over No. 22 Mississippi 89-80

AP
Jan 18, 2024

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) Jordan Wright scored 27 points to lead LSU to an 89-80 victory over No. 22 Mississippi on Wednesday night.

Wright, a graduate transfer from Vanderbilt and a Baton Rouge area native, scored six of LSU’s nine points to close the first half and eight of the Tigers’ 10 points to open the second half. He finished with seven rebounds, five assists and seven steals.

“I watched what they (Mississippi) did to Florida,” Wright said of the Rebels' 103-85 win on Jan. 10. “They just dominated that game. It put a chip on my shoulder. I was like, ‘There’s no way they’re going to do that to us.’”

Jalen Cook added 16 points for LSU (11-6, 3-1 Southeastern Conference). Tyrell Ward contributed 11 points, including a trio of 3-pointers in two minutes during a 13-4 run that boosted the Tigers’ lead to 64-48 with 9:48 left to play.

LSU coach Matt McMahon said the genesis of the Tigers’ first win over a ranked team this season started in the second half of Saturday’s 93-78 loss at Auburn. The Tigers cut a 28-point Auburn second-half lead to eight points with 2:12 left.

“Disappointed we weren’t able to win, but I thought that was an important step for us as a team to get back in the game,” McMahon said.

LSU led 77-62 with 3:18 before Mississippi’s pressing defense caused two missed shots and two turnovers in a 10-0 run.

A deep corner 3-pointer by Mike Williams III stopped the bleeding and the Tigers hit 9 of 10 free throws in the final 32 seconds.

Mississippi (15-2, 2-2) got the bulk of its scoring from Matthew Murrell, Jaylen Murray and Allen Flanigan, all ranked among the SEC’s top 20 scorers.

Murray had 23 points, Flanigan 20 and Murrell 19. The Rebels made their last 4 of 8 shots to avoid their worst field-goal shooting performance of the season.

“We played a well-coached team with good, experienced players,” Mississippi first-year coach Chris Beard said. “They (LSU) have a defensive identity. They try to get you to turn the ball over, and we fell for it early.”

LSU chased Mississippi almost the entire first half before finally taking the lead on a Wright steal and basket with 1:45 left, then retaking it on a Cook 3-pointer with 1:04 remaining that held up for a 35-33 halftime advantage.

Wright said McMahon told the team they needed a quick start in the second half before Ward broke open the game, swishing three straight 3s from the deep left wing.

BIG PICTURE

Mississippi: Rebels’ junior guard Brandon Murray, who’s playing for his third school in three seasons, began his college career for LSU. He started 32 games for the Tigers, averaging 10 points and earning SEC All-Freshman team honors. Murray scored two points in 22 minutes.

LSU: With the LSU students back in school for the start of the spring semester, Wednesday’s home game drew just 8,777. LSU’s average home attendance ranks 11th in the 14-team SEC. McMahon persuaded the students to attend by footing the bill for free Whataburgers for the first 500 students through the doors.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Mississippi just broke into the top 25. The loss to unranked LSU should drop the Rebels out of the rankings.

UP NEXT

Ole Miss: Plays at Auburn on Saturday.

LSU: Hosts Texas A&M on Saturday.

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AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

1st Half
MISS
Rebels
33
LSU
Tigers
35

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Moussa Cisse vs. Will Baker (Rebels gains possession)
19:44		Matthew Murrell turnover (Mike Williams III steals)
19:36		Will Baker misses two point layup
19:34		Moussa Cisse defensive rebound
19:12		Jaemyn Brakefield turnover (Mike Williams III steals)
19:05		Jalen Cook misses three point jump shot
19:03		Will Baker offensive rebound
18:56		Mike Williams III misses three point jump shot
18:54		Allen Flanigan defensive rebound
18:49		Matthew Murrell turnover (Jordan Wright steals)
18:40		Jalen Cook turnover (Jaemyn Brakefield steals)
18:29		Matthew Murrell misses three point jump shot
18:27		Mike Williams III defensive rebound
18:20		Jordan Wright turnover (out of bounds)
18:05	+3	Jaylen Murray makes three point jump shot (Jaemyn Brakefield assists)	3-0
17:46	+3	Mike Williams III makes three point jump shot (Will Baker assists)	3-3
17:36		Jalen Reed blocks Moussa Cisse's two point layup
17:34		Jalen Cook defensive rebound
17:19		Jordan Wright misses two point jump shot
17:17		Jaemyn Brakefield defensive rebound
17:05	+3	Jaylen Murray makes three point jump shot	6-3
16:45		Jalen Cook turnover (bad pass)
16:35		Jalen Cook shooting foul (Jaylen Murray draws the foul)
16:35		Jaylen Murray misses regular free throw 1 of 2
16:35	+1	Jaylen Murray makes regular free throw 2 of 2	7-3
16:07		Jalen Reed turnover (traveling)
15:55		Jaylen Murray misses two point layup
15:53		Jamarion Sharp offensive rebound
15:45	+2	Jaylen Murray makes two point layup (Jamarion Sharp assists)	9-3
15:36		TV timeout
15:26	+3	Will Baker makes three point jump shot (Jordan Wright assists)	9-6
15:01		Allen Flanigan misses two point layup
14:59		Will Baker defensive rebound
14:50		Jalen Cook misses three point jump shot
14:48		Jamarion Sharp defensive rebound
14:43		Jamarion Sharp turnover (Jordan Wright steals)
14:41		Jalen Cook misses three point jump shot
14:39		Will Baker offensive rebound
14:35		Jamarion Sharp personal foul (Will Baker draws the foul)
14:35		Will Baker misses regular free throw 1 of 2
14:33	+1	Will Baker makes regular free throw 2 of 2	9-7
14:21		Jalen Reed personal foul
14:12	+2	Matthew Murrell makes two point jump shot (Jaemyn Brakefield assists)	11-7
13:57		Mike Williams III misses three point jump shot
13:55		Jalen Reed offensive rebound
13:49	+2	Jalen Reed makes two point layup	11-9
13:43		Matthew Murrell turnover (Jordan Wright steals)
13:26		Moussa Cisse blocks Jalen Cook's two point layup
13:24		Tigers offensive rebound
13:22		Hunter Dean turnover (Allen Flanigan steals)
13:09	+2	Allen Flanigan makes two point layup	13-9
12:57		Jaemyn Brakefield shooting foul (Jalen Reed draws the foul)
12:57		Jalen Reed misses regular free throw 1 of 2
12:57	+1	Jalen Reed makes regular free throw 2 of 2	13-10
12:36		Jaemyn Brakefield misses two point jump shot
12:34		Moussa Cisse offensive rebound
12:28		Matthew Murrell misses three point jump shot
12:26		Jaemyn Brakefield offensive rebound
12:26		Derek Fountain shooting foul
12:26	+1	Jaemyn Brakefield makes regular free throw 1 of 2	14-10
12:26	+1	Jaemyn Brakefield makes regular free throw 2 of 2	15-10
11:58	+3	Jordan Wright makes three point jump shot	15-13
11:38	+2	Brandon Murray makes two point jump shot	17-13
11:25		Jordan Wright misses three point jump shot
11:23		Derek Fountain offensive rebound
11:16	+2	Derek Fountain makes two point layup	17-15
10:55		Allen Flanigan misses two point jump shot
10:53		Jalen Cook defensive rebound
10:45		Trae Hannibal misses two point layup
10:43		Matthew Murrell defensive rebound
10:39		Derek Fountain shooting foul
10:39		TV timeout
10:39	+1	Allen Flanigan makes regular free throw 1 of 2	18-15
10:39	+1	Allen Flanigan makes regular free throw 2 of 2	19-15
10:22	+2	Jalen Reed makes two point jump shot	19-17
10:05	+2	Jaylen Murray makes two point jump shot (Jaemyn Brakefield assists)	21-17
9:47		Jordan Wright misses two point layup
9:45		Rebels defensive rebound
9:32	+3	Matthew Murrell makes three point jump shot	24-17
9:18	+2	Jordan Wright makes two point layup	24-19
8:49		Jaemyn Brakefield turnover (Jordan Wright steals)
8:39	+2	Tyrell Ward makes two point dunk (Jordan Wright assists)	24-21
8:23		Jaylen Murray misses two point layup
8:21		Will Baker defensive rebound
8:13		Jordan Wright turnover (Jaylen Murray steals)
8:05		Jaemyn Brakefield misses three point jump shot
8:03		Jalen Reed defensive rebound
7:59	+3	Jalen Reed makes three point jump shot (Tyrell Ward assists)	24-24
7:59		Rebels 30 second timeout
7:56		TV timeout
7:43		Tyrell Ward shooting foul (Moussa Cisse draws the foul)
7:43		Moussa Cisse misses regular free throw 1 of 2
7:43	+1	Moussa Cisse makes regular free throw 2 of 2	25-24
7:29		Moussa Cisse blocks Jalen Reed's two point layup
7:27		Jaemyn Brakefield defensive rebound
7:13		Tyrell Ward blocks Allen Flanigan's two point layup
7:11		Jalen Cook defensive rebound
6:49		Will Baker misses two point jump shot
6:47		Matthew Murrell defensive rebound
6:40		Allen Flanigan turnover (Mike Williams III steals)
6:36		Jaemyn Brakefield shooting foul (Mike Williams III draws the foul)
6:36	+1	Mike Williams III makes regular free throw 1 of 2	25-25
6:36		Mike Williams III misses regular free throw 2 of 2
6:36		Allen Flanigan defensive rebound
6:23		Moussa Cisse misses two point layup
6:21		Jalen Reed defensive rebound
6:14		Jalen Cook misses three point jump shot
6:12		Moussa Cisse defensive rebound
5:51	+2	Matthew Murrell makes two point jump shot	27-25
5:32		Moussa Cisse personal foul (Will Baker draws the foul)
5:32	+1	Will Baker makes regular free throw 1 of 2	27-26
5:32		Will Baker misses regular free throw 2 of 2
5:32		Allen Flanigan defensive rebound
5:19		Jaylen Murray turnover (Jordan Wright steals)
5:15		Matthew Murrell shooting foul (Jordan Wright draws the foul)
5:15	+1	Jordan Wright makes regular free throw 1 of 2	27-27
5:15	+1	Jordan Wright makes regular free throw 2 of 2	27-28
5:04	+2	Matthew Murrell makes two point jump shot	29-28
4:53		Jalen Cook turnover (Allen Flanigan steals)
4:46	+2	Allen Flanigan makes two point dunk	31-28
4:23		Jalen Cook turnover
4:02		Matthew Murrell misses two point jump shot
4:00		Jalen Reed defensive rebound
3:44		Jamarion Sharp blocks Jalen Reed's two point layup
3:42		Allen Flanigan defensive rebound
3:35		Brandon Murray misses three point jump shot
3:33		Jalen Reed defensive rebound
3:14	+2	Jordan Wright makes two point layup (Will Baker assists)	31-30
2:56		Brandon Murray misses two point jump shot
2:54		Jordan Wright defensive rebound
2:41		Will Baker turnover (Matthew Murrell steals)
2:39		TV timeout
2:15		TJ Caldwell misses three point jump shot
2:13		Jordan Wright defensive rebound
1:58		Jordan Wright misses three point jump shot
1:56		Allen Flanigan defensive rebound
1:49		Allen Flanigan turnover (Jordan Wright steals)
1:42	+2	Jordan Wright makes two point dunk	31-32
1:21	+2	Jaylen Murray makes two point layup	33-32
1:06	+3	Jalen Cook makes three point jump shot (Jordan Wright assists)	33-35
0:40		Jalen Cook personal foul
0:30		Matthew Murrell misses three point jump shot
0:28		Mike Williams III defensive rebound
0:01		Jordan Wright misses two point jump shot
0:00		Hunter Dean offensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
MISS
Rebels
47
LSU
Tigers
54

Time		Play	Score
19:52	+3	Jordan Wright makes three point jump shot (Jalen Reed assists)	33-38
19:19		Jaemyn Brakefield misses three point jump shot
19:17		Mike Williams III defensive rebound
19:09	+2	Jordan Wright makes two point layup	33-40
19:09		Jaylen Murray shooting foul (Jordan Wright draws the foul)
19:09	+1	Jordan Wright makes regular free throw 1 of 1	33-41
18:53		Allen Flanigan misses three point jump shot
18:51		Allen Flanigan offensive rebound
18:48	+2	Allen Flanigan makes two point layup	35-41
18:31	+2	Jalen Cook makes two point layup	35-43
18:19		Jaylen Murray misses three point jump shot
18:17		Rebels offensive rebound
18:17		Will Baker personal foul
18:13	+2	Matthew Murrell makes two point jump shot (Jaylen Murray assists)	37-43
17:51		Mike Williams III misses three point jump shot
17:49		Jaemyn Brakefield defensive rebound
17:33		Mike Williams III personal foul (Allen Flanigan draws the foul)
17:19		Mike Williams III personal foul (Allen Flanigan draws the foul)
17:12	+2	Jaylen Murray makes two point layup	39-43
16:53		Moussa Cisse blocks Will Baker's two point layup
16:51		Jaemyn Brakefield defensive rebound
16:45		Matthew Murrell misses two point jump shot
16:43		Allen Flanigan offensive rebound
16:40		Allen Flanigan misses two point layup
16:38		Will Baker defensive rebound
16:27		Jordan Wright misses two point layup
16:25		Jordan Wright offensive rebound
16:25	+2	Jordan Wright makes two point layup	39-45
16:05		Moussa Cisse misses two point jump shot
16:03		Mike Williams III defensive rebound
15:45		Jaylen Murray shooting foul (Jalen Cook draws the foul)
15:45		TV timeout
15:45	+1	Jalen Cook makes regular free throw 1 of 2	39-46
15:45	+1	Jalen Cook makes regular free throw 2 of 2	39-47
15:36		Tyrell Ward shooting foul (Allen Flanigan draws the foul)
15:36	+1	Allen Flanigan makes regular free throw 1 of 2	40-47
15:36	+1	Allen Flanigan makes regular free throw 2 of 2	41-47
15:20	+2	Will Baker makes two point dunk (Mike Williams III assists)	41-49
15:04		Allen Flanigan misses two point jump shot
15:02		Will Baker defensive rebound
14:57		Derek Fountain misses two point layup
14:55		Jamarion Sharp defensive rebound
14:51		Mike Williams III personal foul
14:40		Jaemyn Brakefield misses two point jump shot
14:38		Will Baker defensive rebound
14:33		Jaemyn Brakefield blocks Jalen Cook's two point layup
14:31		TJ Caldwell defensive rebound
14:25		TJ Caldwell misses two point jump shot
14:23		Derek Fountain defensive rebound
14:01		Will Baker misses two point layup
13:59		Jaemyn Brakefield defensive rebound
13:54	+2	TJ Caldwell makes two point layup (Matthew Murrell assists)	43-49
13:35	+2	Will Baker makes two point layup (Derek Fountain assists)	43-51
13:20		Derek Fountain shooting foul (Matthew Murrell draws the foul)
13:20	+1	Matthew Murrell makes regular free throw 1 of 2	44-51
13:20		Matthew Murrell misses regular free throw 2 of 2
13:20		Jordan Wright defensive rebound
13:02		Hunter Dean turnover (lost ball)
12:38		Allen Flanigan misses three point jump shot
12:36		Hunter Dean defensive rebound
12:22	+3	Tyrell Ward makes three point jump shot	44-54
12:05		Tyrell Ward personal foul (Jaemyn Brakefield draws the foul)
12:05	+1	Jaemyn Brakefield makes regular free throw 1 of 2	45-54
12:05	+1	Jaemyn Brakefield makes regular free throw 2 of 2	46-54
11:51	+3	Tyrell Ward makes three point jump shot (Trae Hannibal assists)	46-57
11:41		Brandon Murray misses two point layup
11:41		Rebels offensive rebound
11:41		TV timeout
11:39		Jordan Wright personal foul (Matthew Murrell draws the foul)
11:39	+1	Matthew Murrell makes regular free throw 1 of 2	47-57
11:39	+1	Matthew Murrell makes regular free throw 2 of 2	48-57
11:17	+2	Trae Hannibal makes two point layup (Jordan Wright assists)	48-59
10:50		Matthew Murrell misses two point layup
10:48		Hunter Dean defensive rebound
10:24	+3	Tyrell Ward makes three point jump shot	48-62
9:54		Jaemyn Brakefield misses two point layup
9:52		Derek Fountain defensive rebound
9:48	+2	Hunter Dean makes two point layup (Jordan Wright assists)	48-64
9:48		Jaemyn Brakefield shooting foul (Hunter Dean draws the foul)
9:48		Hunter Dean misses regular free throw 1 of 1
9:48		Moussa Cisse defensive rebound
9:37		Allen Flanigan misses three point jump shot
9:35		Jaemyn Brakefield offensive rebound
9:31		Jaemyn Brakefield misses two point layup
9:29		Hunter Dean defensive rebound
9:17		Derek Fountain misses two point jump shot
9:15		Jaylen Murray defensive rebound
9:09	+3	Jaemyn Brakefield makes three point jump shot	51-64
9:08		Rebels 30 second timeout
9:08		TV timeout
8:56		Moussa Cisse personal foul (Trae Hannibal draws the foul)
8:45		Jalen Reed turnover (traveling)
8:26		Matthew Murrell misses two point jump shot
8:24		Jordan Wright defensive rebound
8:09	+2	Jordan Wright makes two point jump shot	51-66
7:52	+2	Matthew Murrell makes two point jump shot (Jaylen Murray assists)	53-66
7:33		Trae Hannibal turnover (bad pass) (Jaylen Murray steals)
7:26		Jaylen Murray misses three point jump shot
7:24		Hunter Dean defensive rebound
7:06		Tyrell Ward misses three point jump shot
7:04		Moussa Cisse defensive rebound
6:54	+2	Matthew Murrell makes two point layup	55-66
6:54		Hunter Dean shooting foul (Matthew Murrell draws the foul)
6:54		TV timeout
6:54	+1	Matthew Murrell makes regular free throw 1 of 1	56-66
6:41		Jordan Wright turnover (bad pass) (Jaylen Murray steals)
6:35		Tyrell Ward shooting foul (Allen Flanigan draws the foul)
6:35	+1	Allen Flanigan makes regular free throw 1 of 2	57-66
6:35	+1	Allen Flanigan makes regular free throw 2 of 2	58-66
6:13		Jalen Cook misses three point jump shot
6:11		Jaylen Murray defensive rebound
5:51		Will Baker shooting foul (Jaemyn Brakefield draws the foul)
5:51	+1	Jaemyn Brakefield makes regular free throw 1 of 2	59-66
5:51	+1	Jaemyn Brakefield makes regular free throw 2 of 2	60-66
5:38	+2	Jalen Cook makes two point layup	60-68
5:27		Jaylen Murray misses three point jump shot
5:25		Jaylen Murray offensive rebound
5:17	+2	Jaylen Murray makes two point layup	62-68
5:05	+2	Jalen Cook makes two point jump shot	62-70
5:05		Matthew Murrell shooting foul (Jalen Cook draws the foul)
5:05	+1	Jalen Cook makes regular free throw 1 of 1	62-71
4:54		Allen Flanigan misses two point jump shot
4:52		Jalen Reed defensive rebound
4:40		Jalen Cook misses two point jump shot
4:38		Will Baker offensive rebound
4:27		Jordan Wright misses two point jump shot
4:25		Jordan Wright offensive rebound
4:23	+2	Jordan Wright makes two point layup	62-73
3:56		Allen Flanigan turnover (lost ball) (Jordan Wright steals)
3:56		TV timeout
3:51		Matthew Murrell shooting foul (Mike Williams III draws the foul)
3:51	+1	Mike Williams III makes regular free throw 1 of 2	62-74
3:51	+1	Mike Williams III makes regular free throw 2 of 2	62-75
3:24		Jalen Reed blocks Allen Flanigan's two point layup
3:22		Jaemyn Brakefield offensive rebound
3:22		Jump ball. (Rebels gains possession)
3:20		Matthew Murrell misses three point jump shot
3:18		Jalen Cook defensive rebound
3:18		Allen Flanigan personal foul (Jalen Cook draws the foul)
3:18	+1	Jalen Cook makes regular free throw 1 of 2	62-76
3:18	+1	Jalen Cook makes regular free throw 2 of 2	62-77
3:13		Jalen Reed personal foul (Jaemyn Brakefield draws the foul)
3:13	+1	Jaemyn Brakefield makes regular free throw 1 of 2	63-77
3:13	+1	Jaemyn Brakefield makes regular free throw 2 of 2	64-77
3:00		Jaemyn Brakefield personal foul (Jordan Wright draws the foul)
3:00		Jordan Wright misses regular free throw 1 of 1
3:00		Jalen Reed offensive rebound
2:57		Jalen Reed misses two point layup
2:55		Jaemyn Brakefield defensive rebound
2:48		Jalen Cook shooting foul (Allen Flanigan draws the foul)
2:48	+1	Allen Flanigan makes regular free throw 1 of 2	65-77
2:48	+1	Allen Flanigan makes regular free throw 2 of 2	66-77
2:24		Mike Williams III misses two point dunk
2:22		TJ Caldwell defensive rebound
2:20		Jordan Wright shooting foul (Allen Flanigan draws the foul)
2:20	+1	Allen Flanigan makes regular free throw 1 of 2	67-77
2:20	+1	Allen Flanigan makes regular free throw 2 of 2	68-77
2:20		Rebels 30 second timeout
2:04		Jordan Wright turnover (bad pass) (Allen Flanigan steals)
2:01	+2	Allen Flanigan makes two point layup	70-77
1:51		Will Baker turnover (lost ball)
1:41	+2	Allen Flanigan makes two point layup	72-77
1:07	+3	Mike Williams III makes three point jump shot (Jalen Cook assists)	72-80
1:04		Tigers 30 second timeout
0:53		Jordan Wright shooting foul (Jaemyn Brakefield draws the foul)
0:53	+1	Jaemyn Brakefield makes regular free throw 1 of 2	73-80
0:53	+1	Jaemyn Brakefield makes regular free throw 2 of 2	74-80
0:47		Matthew Murrell personal foul (Mike Williams III draws the foul)
0:47		Mike Williams III misses regular free throw 1 of 1
0:47		Allen Flanigan defensive rebound
0:37		Allen Flanigan misses three point jump shot
0:35		Hunter Dean defensive rebound
0:32		Jaylen Murray personal foul (Jalen Cook draws the foul)
0:32	+1	Jalen Cook makes regular free throw 1 of 2	74-81
0:32	+1	Jalen Cook makes regular free throw 2 of 2	74-82
0:26		Jaemyn Brakefield misses three point jump shot
0:24		Hunter Dean defensive rebound
0:22		Allen Flanigan personal foul (Mike Williams III draws the foul)
0:22		Mike Williams III misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:22	+1	Mike Williams III makes regular free throw 2 of 2	74-83
0:18	+3	Jaylen Murray makes three point jump shot	77-83
0:17		Rebels 30 second timeout
0:16		Jaemyn Brakefield personal foul (Jordan Wright draws the foul)
0:16	+1	Jordan Wright makes regular free throw 1 of 2	77-84
0:16	+1	Jordan Wright makes regular free throw 2 of 2	77-85
0:11	+3	Jaylen Murray makes three point jump shot	80-85
0:11		Allen Flanigan personal foul (Hunter Dean draws the foul)
0:11	+1	Hunter Dean makes regular free throw 1 of 2	80-86
0:11	+1	Hunter Dean makes regular free throw 2 of 2	80-87
0:08		Matthew Murrell misses three point jump shot
0:06		Jordan Wright defensive rebound
0:05		Matthew Murrell personal foul (Jordan Wright draws the foul)
0:05	+1	Jordan Wright makes regular free throw 1 of 2	80-88
0:05	+1	Jordan Wright makes regular free throw 2 of 2	80-89
0:00		Allen Flanigan misses three point jump shot
0:00		Hunter Dean defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Hunter Dean defensive rebound