BATON ROUGE — No. 12 LSU struggled some offensively but got a big game at the free throw line from junior forward Glen Davis and transfer Terry Martin made a successful home debut as the Tigers downed Louisiana Tech, 68-52, Saturday afternoon at the Maravich Assembly Center for its 64th consecutive home victory against Louisiana competition.
Davis hit four-of-11 field goals but was fouled constantly driving to the goal and made 15-of-18, just one free throw make shy of cracking the top five all-time in school history in charity shots made. He finished with his fifth 20-point game in the last six with 23 points and 14 rebounds. It was a good turnaround for Davis after his season low eight points in the loss Wednesday at Washington.
Martin was also on the verge of a school record night when in his second game after transferring from Texas Tech, hit his first five three-point attempts before missing late in the second half to finish 5-of-6 from the arc and 7-of-9 overall for 19 points in 25 minutes. His 83.3 percent shooting for the game from three-point range stands tied for sixth overall in a single LSU game. Martin has now scored 32 points in his first two games.
Louisiana Tech (2-9) was the last team to win at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center from the state, as LSU started a streak two nights later that has now reached over 18-years. Trey McDowell equaled his season-high with 19 points for the Bulldogs, while Chad McKenzie added 12 points and Terry Parker had 10.
“It was a good win,” said LSU Coach John Brady, whose Tigers will play three consecutive nights beginning Wednesday in the Hispanic College Fund Classic in Baton Rouge. “We got an opportunity to work against a lot of zone (defense). We didn’t shoot the ball as well as I would have liked outside of Terry Martin from the perimeter, but it manufactured 18 free throws for Glen (Davis). He was able to get to the free throw line. We rebounded the ball well when we needed to. We went to the zone a little bit and exposed some of their shooting difficulties. We got to play some people.”
The Tigers shot 42.3 percent for the game (22-of-52) and 31.6 percent from the arc (6-of-19). Tech shot just 35.6 percent (21-of-59) and 4-of-21 from the arc. LSU out rebounded Louisiana Tech, 45-25 with 15 offensive boards, seven by Davis.
All of Martin’s points came during a stretch in which LSU outscored Louisiana Tech, 15-4. Martin’s first 3-pointer gave the Tigers a 14-8 lead. Following a field goal by Parker, Martin hit consecutive 3s. A basket by Martin gave LSU a 26-12 lead, but five points by McDowell helped the Bulldogs trim the deficit to 33-22 at halftime.
Louisiana Tech cut the Tigers’ lead to 40-33 at the start of the second half. McKenzie connected on two field goals and a foul shot during that stretch. LSU then put the game away with a 13-2 run.
“They were tough on the boards,” said Tech Coach Keith Richard. “We knew that coming in, and they were. Even when we did block them out sometimes, they were just bigger and stronger and pushed us under there. Of course, (Glen) Davis hit some tremendous shots for his size, unbelievable, with a hand pretty much in his face but hit some big-time shots, and that’s why he’s one of the best players in the country.”
The Tigers take on Wright State in the nightcap of the first of three consecutive doubleheaders in the Hispanic College Fund Classic at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday night at the Maravich Center. Samford and Mississippi Valley State will play in the tournament’s 5 p.m. opener. Tickets for each night’s doubleheader are $11 each and available online at www.LSUsports.net or at the LSU Athletics Ticket Office that will reopen on Wednesday at 8 a.m.
LSU HEAD COACH JOHN BRADY
Opening Statement
“It was a good win. We got an opportunity to work against a lot of zone (defense). We didn’t shoot the ball as well as I would have liked outside of Terry Martin from the perimeter, but it manufactured 18 free throws for Glen (Davis). He was able to get to the free throw line. We rebounded the ball well when we needed to. We went to the zone a little bit and exposed some of their shooting difficulties. We got to play some people. Terry Martin shot the ball well at Washington, and he shot it good today. Hopefully, we can get Tasmin (Mitchell) more consistent and Garrett (Temple) more consistent from the perimeter when we do see a lot of zone. I think that is what we are going to see from some people that can’t match us inside. I think there are two or three teams in the league that will probably play us some zone. I am sure we will see zone the next three games.”
“Darnell (Lazare) is getting a little healthier. I thought he ran up and down the floor with a little less pain. We are just going to have to encourage and be patient with Magnum (Rolle). Hopefully, we can get him better. I was pleased with the rest of the way the guys tried to play. We looked like at times offensively we struggled a little bit. I think it is just because Tasmin and Garrett didn’t have one of their better shooting nights from the perimeter. But we got it inside. Glen got fouled and he was able to make a few jump shots, which helped us. Then we got on the board well. We had 15 offensive rebounds, 45 boards overall. I think that was the difference in the game.”
LOUISIANA TECH HEAD COACH KEITH RICHARD QUOTES
On the effectiveness of the zone defense against LSU …
“It helped today. We were going to mix up the defenses, but it was going pretty good, good enough to what I thought would be to keep us in there. So we just kind of stayed with it and just told the team, ‘Maybe we do need to use it more and kind of keep it going there a little bit and see how we do with it.’ “
On LSU going into zone midway through the second half to stop Tech’s momentum …
“We got out of kilter, out of what we’re trying to do, who we’re trying to be, and then they stretched it out a little bit. Another thing, we missed some open shots against that zone, wide open shots. We missed a dunk, so it kind of came back to offense. But I wasn’t really disappointed in what we ran; it just wasn’t enough offense to stay in that game. We needed to make some of those threes against that zone because we had crept back in. I don’t know how close we got it, seven or eight, and got some good looks but not quite good enough offense.”
On if the team gained confidence from this game …
“It should, and we’ll see. Some interesting dynamics going on with our team, as we mentioned, role identification, and that’s bothering a few of them (the players). I thought we played hard; I thought they listened to the scouts on what we were trying to do in the 2-3 zone which is part of trying to play in this game, but some of these guys have to realize who they are and how we need them to play. And when they don’t, that’s when we get out of whack a little bit. It’s hard for them, especially some of the seniors, but they got to do it. And they got to do it because it’s what’s best for our team, and if they don’t do it, then we’ll just move along down the line, which is terrible but that’s what you got to do. You have to get a group that’s all intact in trying to do what we’re trying to do, so if we can kind of keep going down that road a little bit offensively I believe we’ll be OK. Maybe the 2-3 zone here is something we can use some more and probably will. They (LSU) were tough on the boards. We knew that coming in, and they were. Even when we did block them out sometimes, they were just bigger and stronger and pushed us under there. Of course, (Glen) Davis hit some tremendous shots for his size, unbelievable, with a hand pretty much in his face but hit some big time shots, and that’s why he’s one of the best players in the country.”