LSU men’s basketball drops home game to Oklahoma, failing to build on rare SEC momentum

Oklahoma pulls away in Baton Rouge to halt LSU’s attempt at a second straight SEC win

LSU’s effort to string together consecutive wins in Southeastern Conference play ended Saturday night, Feb. 28, 2026, with an 83-67 home loss to Oklahoma at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The result left both programs with identical 15-14 overall records, while LSU continued to sit near the bottom of the conference standings.

The matchup carried added significance for LSU because it followed a high-scoring, two-overtime road win at Ole Miss earlier in the week. LSU entered Saturday attempting to turn that performance into sustained progress in league play, but Oklahoma seized control early and maintained it for most of the night.

How the game swung: Oklahoma’s early run and consistent shot-making

LSU opened with an early three-pointer and a quick basket, but Oklahoma answered with a 10-point run to take the lead. From there, LSU spent the remainder of the first half trying to close the gap, while Oklahoma’s efficiency gave it a cushion heading to the locker room up 41-33.

In the first half, LSU shot 10-of-30 from the field (33.3%), while Oklahoma went 12-of-25 (48%). LSU held a rebounding edge at the break (21-14), but that advantage did not translate into enough scoring to erase Oklahoma’s lead.

Oklahoma sustained its pace after halftime, outscoring LSU 42-34 in the second half. The Sooners finished at 47.1% shooting (16-of-34) after intermission and hit six 3-pointers, helping turn a competitive stretch into a comfortable finish.

Key players: Pack leads Oklahoma; LSU’s scorers can’t change the trend

Oklahoma guard Nijel Pack led the game with 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting and made five 3-pointers. His perimeter production provided separation whenever LSU threatened to cut into the deficit.

For LSU, Max Mackinnon led with 17 points but needed 20 shots to get there (6-of-20). PJ Carter added 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting and made four 3-pointers. Michael Nwoko scored 11, and Pablo Tamba added 10, giving LSU four players in double figures, but the Tigers did not generate enough stops or efficient offense to mount a sustained comeback.

What it means next: short runway to the SEC finish

Saturday’s loss set LSU up for a difficult closing stretch. The Tigers are scheduled to return to action Tuesday, March 3, 2026, with a road game at Auburn, followed by the regular-season finale at home against Texas A&M on Saturday, March 8.

• Final score: Oklahoma 83, LSU 67
• Location: Pete Maravich Assembly Center, Baton Rouge
• LSU leader: Max Mackinnon (17 points)
• Oklahoma leader: Nijel Pack (21 points, five 3-pointers)

LSU’s attempt to follow a breakthrough road win with another SEC victory ended with Oklahoma controlling the game from an early first-half run through the final horn.