| After a 15-1 start, a 65-58 loss to Arkansas on Jan. 15 seemed to send the LSU basketball team's season off the rails. A 77-76 loss Wednesday to that same Arkansas team in Fayetteville may have been the toughest loss yet. The Razorbacks outscored the Tigers 21-13 over the last 6 1/2 minutes to pull out the victory and sweep the home and home series. LSU dropped to 20-10 and 8-9 in SEC play going into Saturday's regular-season finale against Alabama, making the Tigers 5-9 since that 15-1 start. Missed shots and controversial fouls in the closing moments doomed LSU's road upset bid. "You can’t make the mistakes that we made defensively down the stretch," LSU coach Will Wade said. "You just can’t do that if you’re going to win big games in tough environments." It's a typically busy spring week of sports action at LSU, and we've got stories on everything from around campus: BASEBALL: LSU handled UNO 11-3 at Alex Box Stadium thanks to a strong combined pitching effort. After starter Garrett Edwards allowed two runs in the first inning, five Tiger relievers combined to allow two hits and just one run over the next eight. Leah Vann also tells us about LSU's decision not to rework its weekend rotation to get Friday night starter Blake Money the start Saturday against No. 1 Texas in the Shriner's Classic in Houston. SPRING FOOTBALL: Wilson Alexander describes what new coach Brian Kelly was looking for when assembling his coaching staff. WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: In my column, I ask why SEC coaches decided to play politics and give their coach of the year award to South Carolina's Dawn Staley over a more deserving Kim Mulkey at LSU. And here is a feature on Tigers' forward Autumn Newby and her decision to leave Vanderbilt to play with her best friend Khayla Pointer at LSU. GYMNASTICS: Junior Kai Rivers is out again with a shoulder injury, one of the SEC's top gymnasts is visiting the PMAC with Kentucky on Friday and dddsdophomore Haleigh Bryant earns yet another SEC weekly honor. SOFTBALL: After a 6-0 weekend, the No. 22-ranked Tigers head across the Atchafalaya to take on No. 21 UL in the first game of a home-and-home series. FINALLY: HERE’S A GREAT DEAL If you can’t tell from this newsletter, our sportswriters are the hardest-working folks in show business. They’ll keep you up to date on the latest news at LSU (and elsewhere). Support their work, and stay on top of everything. If you’re not a subscriber, come join us. Thank you for reading. Until next time, The Advocate beat team (Scott Rabalais, Sheldon Mickles, Wilson Alexander and Leah Vann) | 