Rapid Reaction: Efton Reid helps LSU pull away from Missouri in the SEC Tournament
By Keith Farner
Published:
Efton Reid got a big hand from the LSU faithful on hand in Tampa, Florida, as he checked out with about 8:00 to go, and it was for good reason.
Reid was nearly unstoppable in the paint, as LSU absorbed a tough start to the second half. Reid was 6-for-6 overall for 12 points, including 10 points in the second half, as he showed off a jump hook and power dribble to score against Mizzou. The freshman also chipped in a pair of blocks. He was among 4 LSU players in double figures in a 76-68 victory on Thursday. Darius Days had 16, and Mizzou’s DaJuan Gordon had a game-high 19 points thanks to 4-of-5 shooting from 3.
Eric Gaines had a punctuation on the game with about a minute to go when he faked a 3-pointed and then ran the baseline for a one-handed dunk. LSU at times had stretches of sloppy play as Mizzou kept clawing back.
Dance lessons with Efton Reid 🕺 pic.twitter.com/p29i4gAUhp
— LSU Basketball (@LSUBasketball) March 10, 2022
However, it wasn’t without a fight. Mizzou came out in the second half, and brought more energy and was smothering on defense. Mizzou cut into the 16-point halftime deficit and dropped the margin to 10 points by the first media timeout.
Mizzou had trouble finding offense, which continued a season-long trend, as it shot just 43 percent from the field, while LSU hit at a 56 percent clip. Trevon Brazile added 15 points for Mizzou on 3-for-7 shooting from the field.
LSU advances to play Arkansas on Friday in the quarterfinals.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
