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 | 9-1 | - | 16-3 |
| McNeese | 8-2 | 1 | 15-4 |
| Nicholls | 7-3 | 2 | 8-11 |
| Texas A&M-Corpus Christi | 6-4 | 3 | 10-9 |
| Lamar | 5-5 | 4 | 10-9 |
| New Orleans | 5-5 | 4 | 7-12 |
| Incarnate Word | 4-6 | 5 | 9-10 |
| UT Rio Grande Valley | 4-6 | 5 | 8-11 |
| Northwestern State | 4-6 | 5 | 6-13 |
| East Texas A&M | 3-7 | 6 | 8-12 |
| Houston Christian | 3-7 | 6 | 7-12 |
| SE Louisiana | 2-8 | 7 | 5-14 |
| Southeastern ConferenceSoutheastern Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M | 4-1 | - | 14-4 |
| Florida | 4-1 | - | 13-5 |
| Vanderbilt | 3-2 | 1 | 16-2 |
| Georgia | 3-2 | 1 | 15-3 |
| Alabama | 3-2 | 1 | 13-5 |
| Arkansas | 3-2 | 1 | 13-5 |
| Missouri | 3-2 | 1 | 13-5 |
| Kentucky | 3-2 | 1 | 12-6 |
| Ole Miss | 3-2 | 1 | 11-7 |
| Tennessee | 2-3 | 2 | 12-6 |
| Auburn | 2-3 | 2 | 11-7 |
| Texas | 2-3 | 2 | 11-7 |
| Mississippi State | 2-3 | 2 | 10-8 |
| LSU | 1-4 | 3 | 13-5 |
| Oklahoma | 1-4 | 3 | 11-7 |
| South Carolina | 1-4 | 3 | 10-8 |
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