LSU Looks to Build Off OT Win as Georgia Chases SEC Reset

Both teams aim to bounce back from recent struggles in SEC play

Feb. 7, 2026 at 12:47am

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Georgia and LSU, two teams looking to turn their seasons around, will face off on Saturday in Baton Rouge. The Bulldogs have lost three straight games and fallen to 11th in the SEC standings, while the Tigers ended a three-game skid with an overtime win against South Carolina in their last outing. Both coaches are emphasizing the need for their teams to improve their play and start games stronger as they try to climb back up the conference rankings.

Why it matters

This matchup between Georgia and LSU represents an important opportunity for both teams to gain momentum and position themselves for a stronger second half of the SEC season. The Bulldogs and Tigers have struggled recently, and a win here could provide a much-needed boost as they chase a spot in the conference tournament.

The details

Georgia has lost three straight games and fallen to 11th in the SEC standings. In their last game, they fell behind by as many as 20 points in the first half before losing to Texas A&M 92-77. LSU, meanwhile, ended a three-game skid of their own with a 92-87 overtime win against South Carolina in their previous outing. The Tigers led for all but 26 seconds in the first half and got strong contributions from their bench with 23 assists on 31 baskets. LSU played without starting point guard Dedan Thomas Jr., who has been dealing with a lower leg injury, but his replacement Rashad King stepped up.

  • LSU beat South Carolina in overtime on January 31, 2026.
  • Georgia lost to Texas A&M 92-77 in their last game.

The players

Mike White

Head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs basketball team.

Matt McMahon

Head coach of the LSU Tigers basketball team.

Blue Cain

Guard for the Georgia Bulldogs basketball team.

Dedan Thomas Jr.

Starting point guard for the LSU Tigers basketball team, who has been dealing with a lower leg injury.

Rashad King

Replacement point guard for LSU who played well in Dedan Thomas Jr.'s absence.

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What they’re saying

“Our guys are resilient. We've got to clean up details, but this team really works. We'll accept messages, we'll learn from the film, we'll have good practices.”

— Mike White, Head coach, Georgia Bulldogs

“We have a bunch of issues we have to address besides that.”

— Blue Cain, Guard, Georgia Bulldogs

“We were ready to go from the opening jump. We responded the right way to the poor performance.”

— Matt McMahon, Head coach, LSU Tigers

“I loved our unselfishness. I thought the ball moved. That's how we need to play moving forward.”

— Matt McMahon, Head coach, LSU Tigers

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This matchup between two struggling SEC teams represents an important opportunity for both Georgia and LSU to gain momentum and position themselves for a stronger second half of the conference season. The Bulldogs and Tigers have both faced recent adversity, and a win here could provide a much-needed boost as they chase a spot in the SEC tournament.