LSU visits Tennessee in pivotal SEC clash KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — A struggling LSU squad aims to halt a three-game skid against a surging Tennessee team when the Tigers visit the Volunteers in a Southeastern Conference men’s basketball matchup Saturday at Thompson-Boling Arena. The Tigers (14-10, 5-6 SEC) are reeling after a 91-62 home loss to Arkansas on Tuesday, their most lopsided defeat of the season. LSU has lost five of its last seven games, with its only wins in that stretch coming in overtime at South Carolina and against Missouri. Tennessee (17-6, 8-2), ranked sixth in the latest AP Top 25, has won six of its last seven, including a 73-64 road victory at Mississippi State on Wednesday. The Volunteers sit second in the conference standings. LSU will lean on guard Marquel Sutton, who is averaging 16.4 points over his last five games. He scored 18 in the loss to Arkansas. Tennessee counters with high-scoring guard Nate Ament, who has averaged 22.7 points over his last six contests. He posted 29 points in a narrow road loss to Kentucky on Feb. 7 and added 16 points and five assists against Mississippi State. The Volunteers won the season’s first meeting, 87-77, in Baton Rouge on Jan. 10. Tennessee has won four of the last five games in the series. LSU’s defense, which allowed Arkansas to shoot 56% from the field, faces a major test against a Tennessee offense averaging 81.2 points per game in SEC play. The Tigers rank near the bottom of the conference in scoring defense. A Tennessee victory would solidify its position near the top of the league ahead of a challenging stretch that includes games against Alabama and road trips to Vanderbilt and Missouri. LSU seeks a critical resume-building win to reverse its recent fortunes before hosting Alabama next week. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.