HOUSTON — The Houston Cougars started the game with a 21-3 run, and never trailed on their way to handing LSU their first loss of the season, 60-52, Tuesday night at the Hofheinz Pavilion.
Freshman Brandon Bass led LSU (8-1) with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman, and local high school star, Tack Minor scored 11 points. Jaime Lloreda added 12 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season, but also had eight of LSU’s 15 turnovers.
Lanny Smith scored 19 points and Andre Owens added 18 to lead Houston to victory in a game where the Tigers could only come within two with just over five minutes to play. Houston (6-3) led throughout the game and had a 34-24 lead at halftime.
Houston shot 41 percent compared to 35 percent shooting for LSU, the first time the Tigers have been out-shot this season. Houston’s defense was able to compact their zone defense around Lloreda and Bass, as the LSU perimeter continued to struggle from outside, making just 8 of 32 shots and just 4 of 18 from three-point range. The Tigers also had two technical fouls called on them, one on Minor and one on head coach John Brady.
“We are going to see zone everywhere we go,” said LSU head coach John Brady. “You can run the best zone offense in the world, but we have got to make some shots on the perimeter. I’m really disappointed with the way we played, but give credit to Houston, they certainly outplayed us. Early in the game, we let those guys just drive by us to the goal.”
The win gives the Cougars their first five-game winning streak since the 1997-98 season. With the loss, Brady will have to try again for his 200th career victory on Saturday night against Centenary in Shreveport.