Tigers Finally Buy a Win: LSU Handles Mizzou, Heads to Florida Looking for a Streak

Exhale, Baton Rouge. We finally have a conference win.

After a brutal 0-4 start to SEC play that featured a gut-wrenching, one-point loss to Kentucky just days ago, Matt McMahon’s squad finally put it all together on Saturday. LSU (13-5, 1-4 SEC) took it to Missouri from the jump and walked away with a 78-70 victory that felt like a massive weight coming off the program's shoulders.

It wasn't just that they won; it was how they did it. This team looked like they actually enjoyed playing with each other, even with star PG Dedan Thomas Jr. still stuck in a boot on the sidelines.

The Sutton & Mackinnon Show

With "DJ" Thomas out, someone had to step up, and Marquel Sutton decided to just take over the game. The man was unconscious in the first half, rattling off 13 straight points for the Tigers at one point. He finished with 26, playing like a guy who refused to go 0-5 in the league.

Then you have Max Mackinnon. Every time Missouri tried to make a run and get the PMAC nervous, Mackinnon hit a dagger. He finished with 20 points and, more importantly, showed why he’s the emotional heartbeat of this team.

Vibe Check: All for One

The coolest moment of the day didn't even happen during the game. After the final buzzer, while Mackinnon was doing his post-game interview on the court with the SEC Network, the entire team—starters, bench guys, coaches—absolutely swarmed him.

They weren't just celebrating a win; they were celebrating each other. Coach McMahon even pointed it out later, saying "lesser men would have folded" after the Kentucky heartbreak, but this group is incredibly tight. In an era of NIL and transfer portals where teams can feel like a group of hired guns, these guys actually seem to like each other. That chemistry is going to be massive if they’re going to dig out of this early SEC hole.

SEC Standings: The Long Climb Back

The SEC is a absolute bloodbath this year. Despite the 1-4 conference start, LSU is still 13-5 overall, which keeps them alive in the "at-large" conversation if they can go on a run. Missouri came in at the top of the pack and LSU just knocked them down a peg.

Road Trip From Hell

Now, the real test. LSU has to take this "good vibes" energy on the road for two of the toughest environments in the country.

• At #19 Florida (Tuesday, 6:00 PM CT - ESPN2): The Gators are sitting at the top of the conference and play fast. LSU’s defense has to be elite to keep this close.

• At Arkansas (Saturday, 7:30 PM CT - SEC Network): Bud Walton Arena is where dreams go to die. The Hogs are physical and athletic. LSU is going to need every bit of that "connectedness" to survive Fayetteville.

DJ Watch:

Dedan Thomas Jr. is still day-to-day with that foot injury. McMahon says he's making "tremendous progress," but don't hold your breath for Tuesday. The Tigers proved they can win without him, but they’ll need him back soon if they want to make a real March run.