Angel Reese Can't Stay Out Of Spotlight - 1st To Floor In LSU Court Storm

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - The way Angel Reese has dominated the paint in women's college basketball the last two seasons, perhaps she could survive or thrive in the men's game.

She took a stab at that Wednesday night just as LSU upset No. 17 Kentucky, 75-74, on a buzzer beating tip in by Tigers' guard Tyrell Ward. Reese, watching the game court side with several other LSU women's team members, raced to the court first before the swarm enveloped it and tackled Ward for what would have been an intentional foul.

Then she took a charge and hit the floor, but got right back up and appeared to be OK for the No. 13 LSU women's next game. LSU (22-4, 9-3 SEC) hosts Auburn (16-9, 5-7 SEC) on Thursday (9 p.m., SEC Network).

"Stormed the court, got knocked down, but guess what? It was all worth it," Reese tweeted moments after the court cleared. "This was the most fun I've had in a long time."

Reese is second in the nation in rebounding with 12.5 a game and 29th in scoring with 19.2 points a game after her similar numbers last year led LSU to the national championship with a win over Iowa and Caitlin Clark in the title game. Reese missed four games last November on suspension in what she described as a "mental health" break.

A lot of people had fun at LSU's game, which drew a raucous 9,493 to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center for a nationally televised ESPN game that tipped off at 9 p.m. eastern time. The Tigers (14-12, 6-7 SEC) came back from a 42-27 deficit early in the second half to win their second straight against a ranked opponent. LSU came back from 16 down to win at No. 11 South Carolina, 64-63, on Saturday.

LSU Hero Tyrell Ward Did Not Realize Angel Reese Jumped On Him

Ward, a sophomore from Washington D.C., led LSU with 17 points. He did not realize Reese tackled him, though. 

"I didn't know that," he said. "I blacked out as soon as the shot went in. I can't lie."

LSU second-year coach Matt McMahon tried to find Ward seconds after his shot in case officials ruled against the basket and put more time on the clock. After a review, the play stood.

"Tyrell was mobbed by the court storm there," McMahon said.

LSU fans swarm court just after buzzer beat defeated No. 17 Kentucky Wednesday night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, La. (Photo By OutKick's Glenn Guilbeau).

It was the first full-out court storm at LSU since it beat Ole Miss, 55-52, on the last day of the regular season on March 4, 2006 to win the SEC title.

Kentucky Nearly Pulled It Off

Kentucky (18-8, 8-5 SEC) took a 74-73 lead with 12.4 seconds to play on a 3-pointer by Rob Dillingham. Adou Thiero blocked LSU guard Jordan Wright's jumper with :02 remaining, but Ward grabbed it and put it back in.

The Wildcats just won at No. 13 Auburn, 70-59, on Saturday in their best game of an up-and-down season. They host No. 13 SEC-leading Alabama (19-7, 11-2) on Saturday (4 p.m., CBS). LSU will host Mississippi State (18-8, 7-6 SEC) Saturday (8:30 p.m., SEC Network).

"You can't win if you're not going to come up with fifty-fifty balls," Kentucky coach John Calipari said, referencing the last play. "All that being said, I was proud of these guys in this environment doing what they did, making that last shot (by Dillingham). Adou blocks it. I've got to watch the tape and see who did not grab that ball. The winning ball! Who didn't grab it? And why? Why not dive on the floor, just tie it up? And we we win the game."