Morgan's last-second 3-pointer lifts No. 11 Kentucky over No. 5 LSU 80-78 as Kiffin looks on

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Kentucky guard Tonie Morgan (5) tries to drive past LSU guard Jada Richard, right, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Baton Rouge, La., Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Forest)

Kentucky head coach Kenny Brooks talks to guard Tonie Morgan (5) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against LSU in Baton Rouge, La., Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Forest) — Kentucky guard Tonie Morgan (5) tries to drive past LSU guard Jada Richard, right, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Baton Rouge, La., Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Forest)

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10:44 PM on Thursday, January 1

By RON HIGGINS

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Tonie Morgan hit a 3-pointer with 0.5 seconds left to lift No. 11 Kentucky to an 80-78 win over No. 5 and previously unbeaten LSU on Thursday night.

It was a stunning loss before a crowd of 11,485 that included new LSU football coach Lane Kiffin, who walked hand-in-hand with Tigers’ coach Kim Mulkey onto the floor before the game.

Morgan, a Georgia Tech transfer, led the Wildcats (14-1, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Asia Boone had 18 points, including five 3-pointers; Teonni Key added 17 points and 16 rebounds; and Clara Strack had 15 points.

Mikaylah Williams had 26 points to lead the Tigers (14-1, 0-1). Flau’jae Johnson had 15 points while Jada Richard and Amiya Joiner had 14 apiece.

Morgan’s clutch basket came after Williams hit three free throws for a 78-77 lead with 18.5 seconds left.

UK’s front line height — Strack and Key are both 6-foot-5 — gave LSU a challenge it hadn’t faced this season.

Almost half of LSU’s nation-leading 108 points per game have come from second-chance (26.3 points per game) and fast-break (27.5) points.

But because LSU lost the rebound battle 45-29 for just the second time this season and could only force a season-low 10 turnovers, the Tigers had just four second-chance points and 13 fast-break points.

Williams scored 10 of LSU’s first 14 points as the Tigers roared to a 12-point lead in the first four minutes.

Boone’s third 3-pointer of the first half gave Kentucky its largest lead at 30-25 with 7:39 left in the second quarter. The Tigers responded with a 9-0 run for a 34-30 advantage with 4:57 left, heading toward a 41-41 halftime tie.

Entering the fourth quarter with a 65-60 lead, LSU never led by more than seven points.

Up next

Kentucky: At home vs. Missouri on Sunday.

LSU: At No. 11 Vanderbilt on Sunday.

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