NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In breaking down LSU’s narrow regular-season loss to Georgia last month, Matt McMahon didn’t need much time to get to the difference between winning and losing.
A whopping 19 turnovers, the Tigers’ coach pointed out, loomed large in a 65-63 setback Feb. 14 that extended their losing streak to 13 games.
As a result, it was easy for McMahon to identify the key for LSU’s rematch with Georgia in the first round of the Southeastern Conference tournament Wednesday night would be valuing the ball.
No. 14 seed LSU went out and limited its turnovers in a 72-69 win over No. 11 seed Georgia in the nightcap of a double-header that opened the tournament in Bridgestone Arena.
LSU (14-18) bucked the odds all night, taking the fight to Georgia (16-16) on both ends of the floor — successfully attacking on offense in the first half to build a 12-point halftime lead.
The Tigers did it with a solid team effort, which included a season-low five turnovers, but the all-around effort of an unlikely star helped them hold off the Bulldogs.
Freshman Shawn Phillips, a 7-foot, 245-pound forward, had career-highs with 13 points and 10 rebounds. He added two blocks and turned in two of the biggest plays of the game in the final 69 seconds.
His dunk on a missed shot by Trae Hannibal with 1:09 to play broke a 67-67 tie, and he blocked a chip-shot field-goal attempt by Georgia’s Braelen Bridges with 54 seconds left to preserve a 69-67 lead.
Then, KJ Williams made a basket in the lane with 22 seconds to play that sealed the deal for the Tigers.
With the win, LSU advances to a second-round game against No. 6 seed Vanderbilt (18-13) around 8:30 p.m. Thursday in the final game of a four-game slate. The game will be televised by the SEC Network.
The Tigers snapped a 14-game losing streak by taking down the Commodores 84-77 in Baton Rouge on Feb. 22.
McMahon’s team did it with starting forward Derek Fountain watching from the bench in street clothes, his right arm in a sling. He injured his shoulder in practice Monday and was replaced in the lineup by Jalen Reed.
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