BATON ROUGE — LSU (1-0) overcame 21 turnovers by shooting 52.4 percent from the field to defeat cross-town rival Southern University, 70-59, in the season opener in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
The win was the 47th-straight home, non-conference, regular-season game for the Tigers dating back to Dec. 1, 1997. It was also the 44th-straight in-state win for LSU since Dec. 6, 1988.
Southern (0-1) lost its season opener after winning its only exhibition game.
LSU junior Antonio Hudson shook off a less-than-stellar sophomore campaign by leading the Tigers with 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting. He added seven rebounds and two assists.
Tigers freshman Brandon Bass posted a double double — 15 points and 11 rebounds — in 37 minutes of action. Fellow freshman Darnell Lazare was the third Tiger in double figures with 13 points on 5-of-5 shooting.
Southern was led by 6-4 forward Jarvis Vaughn who had 11 points and junior guard Jerimie Collier who had 10.
The Tigers finished 22-of-42 shooting from the field and only attempted eight three-point shots, making two. However, LSU was only 24 of 40 from the free throw line (60 percent).
Southern was 25 of 61 from the floor (41 percent) and 2-of-15 from three-point range. The Jags also struggled at the line, making 7-of-17.
With three freshman starting their first career regular-season game, the Tigers turned the ball over five times in the first seven minutes to fall behind 10-4. However, Thompson’s break-away three-point play tied the game at 10-10 near the 12-minute mark.
After a Southern basket put the Jags up by a pair, LSU answered with two free throws by Bass and consecutive acrobatic fast-break layups to take a 16-12 lead and force a timeout with 8:21 to play in the half.
The Tigers made six of their first 10 shots from the field, but turned the ball over eight times. Meanwhile, Southern attempted 19 shots in the first 12:15, making six.
Johnson kept the Jaguars within two, 17-15, with a pull-up three-pointer in transition. But again, LSU responded with four straight including a jumper from Bass and a fast-break layup by Mitchell to lead 21-15 with 6:03 to play.
The see-saw half continued as the Tigers’ sloppy play returned, allowing Southern to score six straight and tie the game once again, 21-21, at the 4:35 mark.
Southern took its final lead of the half on a jumper by Collier, but the Tigers went on a 7-1 run over the final 2:07 to lead 32-27 at the break.
LSU opened the second half with a 7-2 run that was capped by a one-handed, put-back dunk by Lazare. Lazare was fouled on the play and completed the conventional three-pointer to lead 39-29 at the 16:51 mark.
A four-point trip and a three-pointer by Scott brought Southern back within three, 41-38, before Bass tipped in the second of two free throw attempts by Mitchell to push the lead back to six with 15:07 to play. Another athletic driving layup by Hudson gave LSU a 48-40 lead two minutes later.
The Jags weren’t done yet, however. LSU guard Tony Gipson lost the ball attempting a three-pointer from the top of the key, and the 6-2 Collier came down with it, drove to the basket and was fouled by Gipson on the one-handed dunk.
Southern followed this three-point play with a pair of free throws and a jumper by Vaughn to get within two, 48-46, at the 11-minute mark. The Jags then tied the game for the first time in the half on a 18-foot jumper by Egland.
LSU’s Regis Koundjia nailed a three-pointer from the left corner and a free throw to end the 8-0 Southern run and start a 9-1 LSU run. The Tigers led 57-49 with 6:16 to play.
Despite its 30-percent shooting from the field in the first 17 minutes of the second half, Southern cut the lead to 61-57 at the 3:15 mark by taking advantage of LSU turnovers and second-chance opportunities.
Hudson scored four straight for LSU and Southern missed four straight free throws to give the Tigers a 65-57 lead with 1:23 to play.
The Tigers sealed the victory when Lazare scored under the basket following a Southern turnover with a minute to play.
LSU returns to action on Monday, Nov. 24, when they play host to McNeese State at 7 p.m. at the PMAC. According to a pre-game release, LSU center Jaime Lloreda will return from a three-game suspension to play the Cowboys.