BATON ROUGE – The LSU men’s basketball team is set to continue its season on the road this Saturday, taking on the No. 11 Vanderbilt Commodores at Memorial Gym in Nashville, starting at noon. The game will be broadcast across various LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates, with the legendary voice of the Tigers, Chris Blair, and former LSU Head Coach John Brady providing commentary. Additionally, fans can watch the matchup on the SEC Network, where Dave Neal and Mark Wise will call the game.
Currently, the Tigers hold a record of 12-3 overall but are struggling in the SEC with an 0-2 conference record. In contrast, Vanderbilt boasts an impressive 15-0 record and is 2-0 in league play. LSU has faced challenges at the start of the conference season, playing without starting point guard DJ Thomas Jr. due to a lower leg injury. His status remains uncertain, listed as day-to-day as of Friday morning.
LSU recently suffered a tough 78-68 defeat against South Carolina, where they were outmatched in the first half. South Carolina ignited their offense with a remarkable 76.9 percent shooting from three-point range, leading by as much as 25 points at halftime before the Tigers managed to close the gap to six in the second half but could not complete the comeback. Max Mackinnon led LSU with 15 points, with Pablo Tamba and PJ Carter contributing 10 points each. Standout center Mike Nwoko, who is currently leading the SEC and ranking third nationally in field goal percentage, experienced his first game shooting below 50 percent this season, although he did achieve a career-high 13 rebounds.
On the other side of the court, Vanderbilt remains unbeaten after a thrilling 96-90 victory over No. 13 Alabama. The Commodores’ balanced offense saw five players score in double figures, with Tyler Tanner leading the charge with a career-high 29 points. Duke Miles closely followed with 19 points, while Tyler Nickel and AK Okereke each contributed 10 points, alongside Devin McGlockton, who also grabbed 12 rebounds. Even as Alabama dominated the boards, Vanderbilt was able to capitalize on turnovers, scoring 14 points off of 13 Alabama mistakes.
This season, Duke Miles is performing exceptionally for Vanderbilt, averaging 17.2 points per game, while Tyler Tanner closely follows with 17.1 points. Tyler Nickel and McGlockton also contribute significantly, showcasing the depth of the Commodores’ roster.
Mark Byington is in his second season at the helm of Vanderbilt’s program, guiding the team through a successful start. For LSU, Jalen Reece has stepped up in the absence of Thomas, recording 13 assists over the last two games as a starter.
Following the matchup with Vanderbilt, LSU will return home next week for two critical games, first against Kentucky on Wednesday at 6 p.m., followed by a faceoff with Missouri on Saturday, January 17, at 2:30 p.m. The latter game will celebrate Alumni Day, honoring the 40th anniversary of the 1986 NCAA Final Four team, with tickets available at LSUTix.net. The upcoming home games present a valuable opportunity for LSU to bounce back and regain momentum as they push through the SEC season.