BATON ROUGE – The LSU men’s basketball team departed Baton Rouge on Friday afternoon, heading to Fayetteville, Arkansas, where a winter wonderland is expected outside Bud Walton Arena. The Tigers will face off against the Arkansas Razorbacks in a Southeastern Conference showdown that has had its tip-off time adjusted to just after 4 p.m. due to inclement weather forecasts predicting 8-12 inches of sleet and snow for the region.
This scheduling change was made by the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in collaboration with officials from both Arkansas and LSU. Fans are eager to see how the typically packed Bud Walton Arena will be affected by the weather conditions.
The game will be broadcasted on the SEC Network, featuring commentary from Brett Dolan and Joe Kleine. Additionally, Chris Blair and John Brady will provide insights on the LSU Sports Radio Network, which includes flagship station Guaranty Media’s Eagle 98.1 FM.
Entering the matchup, LSU holds a record of 13-6 with a 1-5 standing in the SEC, while Arkansas boasts a 14-5 record and a strong 5-1 mark in league play, led by second-year head coach John Calipari. The Razorbacks are coming off a commanding 93-68 victory against Vanderbilt, demonstrating impressive teamwork with 25 assists against only seven turnovers. Darius Acuff led Arkansas with 17 points, while teammates Malique Evans and Karter Knox each contributed 16 points. Meleek Thomas scored 13 points, D. J. Wagner added 11, and Trevon Brazile made a notable impact with 10 points and 14 rebounds.
For LSU, Mike Nwoko was a standout in their recent loss to Florida, scoring 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Nwoko also leads the SEC in field goal percentage at 67.9 percent, ranking third in the NCAA. Point guard DJ Thomas Jr. made his return after missing the first five SEC games, contributing three assists and avoiding turnovers despite a challenging shooting performance.
After this game, LSU will return to Baton Rouge to prepare for their next challenge against Mississippi State, scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday. The Tigers look to rally and build momentum as they navigate the remainder of the season. The match against Arkansas promises to be an exciting display of talent and resilience for both teams in the face of adversity.