by Joey Papania
LSUsports.net
Despite a sluggish start, the LSU Tigers handed Southeastern Louisiana their first loss of the year, 75-36, Monday night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Though it wasnt the 75-point stomping the Tigers handed Grambling St. on Saturday night, it was defense rather than transition dunks that keyed the victory for LSU.
“Sometimes a team isnt as sharp as it has to be and the other team is taking you out of your transition game,” said LSU head coach John Brady. ” That is when you have to play good defense and smart basketball. That is exactly what we did tonight. This was the best defensive performance I have seen in my time here at LSU.”
The Tiger offense was powered behind the frontcourt play of Jabari Smith, Stromile Swift, and Brian Beshara, who combined for 38 points on 13 for 23 shooting from the floor, taking advantage of a much smaller SLU (1-1) team.
LSU (2-0) began the game a dismal 2-14 from the floor, including an 0-5 mark from three-point land, until Beshara came off the bench to can a three-pointer from the right side with 12:00 to play in the first half. Jermaine Williams, who finished with 14 points, was fouled on the ensuing Tiger possession to cap a three point play and give LSU an 11-3 lead.
The Tigers increased their lead to 15 points after a behind the back pass from Torris Bright to Beshara, whos dunk ignited the LSU crowd with 6:03 left in the first half.
The Tiger big men combined to shoot 10-17 from the field and 3-6 from three-point range in the first half. Williams added 7 points and led the Tigers with 19 minutes of first half play.
LSU opened the second half with a 17-2 run giving them a 57-21 edge over the Lions who shot only 8 of 26 from the field in the second half and 15-50 in the game.
Beshara continued his hot hand to lead all players in scoring with 16, including an impressive 3 for 4 showing from behind the three-point line. He also had a game high six assists in 25 minutes of play.
Defensively, LSU forced 20 SLU turnovers and limited the Lions to 30 percent from the field and 22 percent from beyond the arc. Through two games, the Tiger defense has held opponents to only 28 second half points.
With two wins behind them, the Tigers head to Hawaii for the Honolulu Thanksgiving Shoot-out. After a Friday afternoon match-up with Oakland (Mich.), a potential showdown with Western Athletic Conference power Wyoming looms in the distance.