Lamar Cardinals @ LSU Tigers
Cook gets first start, leads LSU to 87-66 win over Lamar
BATON ROUGE, La. -- — Jalen Cook scored a team-high 17 points in his second game back in an LSU uniform, leading the Tigers to an 87-66 win over Lamar on Thursday night.
Cook returned to LSU as a transfer from Tulane and was initially ruled ineligible for the 2023-24 season by the NCAA. A U.S. District judge in West Virginia issued a temporary restraining order against the NCAA, barring it from enforcing its rule against double-transfers having immediate eligibility.
The point guard scored 13 points off the bench in a 96-85 loss to No. 19 Texas and the point guard got his first start against Lamar, scoring 10 points and dishing three assists in the first half while the Tigers built a 45-26 lead at the break. Cook fed Will Baker for dunk to open the scoring 37 seconds into the game. He finished shooting 7 of 18 from the field, 2 of 7 from long range, adding five rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Jordan Wright scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds for LSU (7-5). Baker added 12 points and eight rebounds.
Ja'Sean Jackson and Jakevion Buckley each came off the bench and scored 14 and 12 points, respectively, to lead Lamar (5-7). Terry Anderson had 12 points and Chris Pryor added 10.
LSU plays host to Northwestern State December 29. Lamar will play host to NAIA-member Paul Quinn College December 30.
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Game Information
Baton Rouge, LA

Referee:Joe Lindsay
Referee:Doug Sirmons
Referee:Todd Austin

2025-26 Standings
| Southland ConferenceSouthland Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen F. Austin | 20-2 | - | 28-6 |
| McNeese | 19-3 | 1 | 28-6 |
| UT Rio Grande Valley | 14-8 | 6 | 19-14 |
| Texas A&M-Corpus Christi | 13-9 | 7 | 18-15 |
| New Orleans | 12-10 | 8 | 15-18 |
| Nicholls | 12-10 | 8 | 14-19 |
| Houston Christian | 8-14 | 12 | 12-20 |
| Northwestern State | 8-14 | 12 | 10-22 |
| Incarnate Word | 7-15 | 13 | 12-19 |
| Lamar | 7-15 | 13 | 12-19 |
| East Texas A&M | 6-16 | 14 | 11-21 |
| SE Louisiana | 6-16 | 14 | 9-22 |
| Southeastern ConferenceSoutheastern Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 16-2 | - | 27-8 |
| Arkansas | 13-5 | 3 | 28-9 |
| Alabama | 13-5 | 3 | 25-10 |
| Vanderbilt | 11-7 | 5 | 27-9 |
| Tennessee | 11-7 | 5 | 25-12 |
| Texas A&M | 11-7 | 5 | 22-12 |
| Georgia | 10-8 | 6 | 22-11 |
| Kentucky | 10-8 | 6 | 22-14 |
| Missouri | 10-8 | 6 | 20-13 |
| Texas | 9-9 | 7 | 21-15 |
| Auburn | 7-11 | 9 | 22-16 |
| Oklahoma | 7-11 | 9 | 21-16 |
| Mississippi State | 5-13 | 11 | 13-19 |
| Ole Miss | 4-14 | 12 | 15-20 |
| South Carolina | 4-14 | 12 | 13-19 |
| LSU | 3-15 | 13 | 15-17 |
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