NEW ORLEANS — The LSU men’s basketball team, coming off just one-day’s rest, watched their 13-point first-half lead and 11-point second-half lead dwindle down, but managed to hold on against the University of New Orleans, 68-60, Monday night in the New Orleans Lakefront Arena.
LSU (12-1) was led in scoring by freshman forward Brandon Bass, who put up 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field and 2-of-2 from the free throw line. The Tigers also got a big night from senior forward Jaime Lloreda, who added 14 points and 12 rebounds on the way to his eighth double-double of the season.
UNO (7-7) picked up 19 points from guard Johnell Smith and 17 points from guard Bo McCalebb. The story of the game was that the Privateers, who came into the game only making 29% of their 3-point shots, hit 8-of-13 3-pointers for the game for 62%. Smith and McCalebb each made three.
The Tigers’ weariness showed as they made multiple mistakes and miscues enroute to committing 15 turnovers. This is much of the reason why UNO, despite shooting just 27.8% in the first half, trailed by only four at the half, 29-25.
Both teams heated up in the second half, with the Privateers shooting 50% from the field (13-of-26), and the Tigers shooting 56.5% from the field (13-of-23). The Tigers also made 6 of their final 10 free throws in the last 2:30.
LSU men’s basketball head coach John Brady:
“This was tough. I didn’t think it would be any other way. In the first half we had 11 turnovers against the zone with no pressure on us. We didn’t make good decisions against the zone. We did better in the second half against the zone. We had a chance to really control the game. UNO was ready to play and they played a good game. But we came back and rebounded and executed a little bit better. It was a tough game for us, but make no mistake about it, LSU won the game.”
The Tigers will return to action on Saturday, as the Bulldogs of Mississippi State travel to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Tickets are only $12 and are available in the LSU Athletic Ticket Office and online at www.LSUsports.net. Fans are asked to purchase tickets in advance as a large walk-up crowd is expected.