IOWA CITY, Iowa — Defense is not a dirty word around the LSU basketball team. They seem to relish the opportunity to stop a big-time player.
Wednesday night, the LSU Tigers continued its late season roll with a gritty 63-61 defensive effort over Iowa before 10,511 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in the first round of the Owens-Corning National Invitation Tournament.
The 19-14 Tigers now await the winner of the first round game between Ball State and St. Joseph’s scheduled for Friday at St. Joseph’s (Both school won opening round games earlier in the week.). The winner of that game will play LSU on either Monday or Tuesday most likely at the Maravich Assembly Center, although NIT officials on site would not confirm that.
Season ticket holders may continue to order tickets for a possible second-round game at the LSU Athletic Ticket Office and tickets would be expected to go on sale for the second round game on Saturday.
The Tigers were able to slow down Iowa’s Big 10 Tournament wrecker, Luke Recker, and like in the SEC Tournament, made key defensive plays late to get the win.
“We just kept defending,” said LSU Coach John Brady. “Coming into this game, we knew that we would have to guard Luke Recker and neutralize Reggie Evans. We did what we needed to do. Our offense made enough baskets to win.”
It was a combination of Ronald Dupree and Torris Bright who got hot at the right times for the Tigers. Dupree had 13 points in the first half of a 19-point, 11 rebound night, while Bright had 15 second-half points in an 18-point effort. Jermaine Williams with four assists and four steals also six key second half points in a 10-point night.
Recker, 4-of-16 from the field and 2-of-10 from three-point range, had 12 points, while Reggie Evans was held to 10. Pierre Pierce was the leading scorer for Iowa, which finishes at 19-16, with 13 points.
“A fitting end,” Iowa Coach Steve Alford said of the game. “The things we struggled with all year came back and got us again.”
The Tigers came out looking good and un-intimidated by the atmosphere at the arena where Iowa had won 25-straight non-conference contests. Dupree got off early with four layups in the first six minutes to give LSU a 15-8 advantage. But after LSU stretched the margin to nine, 25-16, with 7:22 to go in the half, Recker and Pierce went to work, eventually tying the game at 27-27 with 1:17 to play. LSU went to the dressing room up 29-28.
In the second half, Iowa came out hot, taking the lead on an 8-0 run from a 35-35 tie as Pierce hit a jumper, Reggie Evans made two free throws, Duez Henderson made a lay up as did Glen Worley to force John Brady to call a timeout at the 13:53 mark down 43-35.
Iowa held that lead through the 11:21 mark before LSU gradually worked it down take the lead, 53-52, on a Bright layup with 5:54 to go. Iowa came back on a three-pointer by Ryan Hogan to take a 56-54 with 3:08 to go before Jermaine Williams, nearly automatic at the free throw line, made two , to tie it at 56-56 with 2:16 to go.
The Tigers then took the lead for good with 1:24 left on a 15-foot jump shot by Dupree, who recorded his nine double-double of the season and the 24th of his career. Iowa’s next two possessions, resulted in turnovers with Williams stealing a ball and feeding Bright for a dunk and then Williams got another steal which didn’t results in points but allowed LSU to run valuable time off the clock.
“I just told Jermaine to start anticipating passes and get into guys and play harder,” said Bright. “Our focus was to stop those two guys (Recker and Evans) if we were going to have a chance to beat them at home.”
Iowa got the ball back and Henderson went to the line for two free throws when Brad Bridgewater fouled out to cut it 60-58, LSU, with 19 seconds to play. Bright was fouled on the inbounds and made one three throw, giving Iowa a chance to tie. The ball was given to Recker with a chance for a three to tie, but the shot was too strong and LSU rebounded and made two free throws to ice it.
“When it left his hand, I could tell is was off,” said Brady. “He’s been making them all week, but he missed because he was never able to get into a rhythm.”
For the Tigers the win was the fifth in the last six games and the seventh in the last 10 for a team that on Feb. 10 was just 12-11 on the season. But LSU is taking one game at a time, looking forward to another possible step to the NIT’s ultimate trip to New York City.