By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN
AP Sports Writer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — LSU’s Glen “Big Baby” Davis lived up to his billing in round one of the NCAA tournament.
Davis will try to lead the fourth-seeded Tigers (24-8) to their first appearance in the regional semifinals in six years when they meet Texas A&M (22-8) in the second round at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Saturday.
The 6-foot-9, 310-pound sophomore shook off a rough first half to finish with 22 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks in LSU’s 80-64 victory over Iona in the first round Thursday.
“I think it was the will,” said Davis, who missed eight of his first nine shots. “The will and determination that I had. I wanted to win. It was a little bit of them getting tired and my will to win.”
Davis is part of an impressive frontcourt for LSU that includes 6-7 Tasmin Mitchell and 6-8 Darnell Lazare. The frontcourt got even stronger when Tyrus Thomas returned from a sprained ankle Thursday after missing the previous four games.
The 6-8, 215-pound Thomas came off the bench and had nine points, eight rebounds and three blocks in 20 minutes. Thomas – the SEC co-freshman of the year – had started his previous 18 games, recording eight double-doubles in that stretch.
“Today was my first game back since spraining my ankle,” he said. “I was just hoping my team would help me get through it as I worked my way into the flow and tried to get my timing back.”
Texas A&M coach Billy Gillispie is concerned about the number of weapons for the Tigers.
“They’re a great team, one of the more athletic teams in the country,” he said. “They have good players at every single position. They do everything well.”
LSU is seeking its second trip to the regional semifinals under coach John Brady and first since 2000.
Texas A&M earned its first NCAA tournament win since 1980 by beating Syracuse 66-58 on Thursday. Acie Law scored 23 points to lead the Aggies, who have won nine of their last 10 games.
Making its first NCAA appearance since 1987, Texas A&M last reached the regional semifinals in 1980 when it beat North Carolina in two overtimes in the second round.
“I don’t think a whole lot of people around the country think we’re a powerhouse program, so if we win a couple of games, it’s going to surprise some people,” guard Chris Walker said. “We enjoy that. We enjoy opening people’s eyes doing things that they didn’t expect us to so. I think that’s what it’s all about.”
The Aggies have been extremely effective defensively during their hot stretch. In their last nine wins, they’ve limited their opponents to 60 points or less and Syracuse star Gerry McNamara was held without a basket for the only time in his career Thursday.
“We’re going to play hard, try to be in your face all the time,” forward Joseph Jones said. “Just basically get on your nerves.”
LSU leads 12-9 in the all-time series with Texas A&M, but the Aggies won 79-77 at Houston on Nov. 30, 2002, in the last meeting.
The winner of this game will face either Duke or George Washington on Thursday in Atlanta.