BATON ROUGE – Coming off its second “road” win of the season, the LSU men’s basketball team looks to go into a short Christmas break with another victory at home as LSU hosts the College of Charleston Monday night at 8 p.m. in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
Those fans bringing a new, unwrapped toy for donation to “Toys For Tots” to the upper concourse ticket windows beginning at 6:30 p.m. to receive a free ticket to the game.
The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network (Tom Werme and Barry Booker) and in the radio broadcast will be available in the Geaux Zone at LSUsports.net and on the affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network (Jim Hawthorne, Ricky Blanton and host Kevin Ford).
The radio broadcast will be available on the following stations: Baton Rouge, WDGL (98.1 FM); Alexandria, KSYL (970 AM); Bogalusa, WBOX (92.9 FM); Ferriday, KFNV (107.1 FM); Houma, KJIN (1490 AM); Jena, KJNA (102.7 FM); Lafayette/Opelousas, KLWB (103.7 FM); Lake Charles, KXZZ (1580 AM); Leesville, KJAE (93.5 FM); Monroe, KMLB (540 AM); Morgan City, KFRA (1390 MA); Natchitoches, KWLV (107.1 FM); New Orleans, WWL (870 AM, 105.3 FM); Ruston, KRUS (1490 AM); Shreveport, KWKH (1130 AM); Tallulah, KTJZ (97.5 FM); Tylertown, Mississippi, WFCG (107.3 FM); Ville Platte, KVPI (1050 AM).
LSU is 8-2 and winners of five straight since returning from the Virgin Islands with two of those wins on the road. LSU will be going for the not only its sixth straight win at home this year, but its sixth straight overall which would equal the longest win streak in Coach Johnny Jones‘ three years at LSU.
The College of Charleston Cougars are 5-6 on the year, having lost to straight, one on the road in overtime at Charlotte, and a Saturday 80-68 decision versus 9-1 Davidson. Canyon Barry made 7-of-14 field goals including three treys in scoring 20 points, while Joe Chealey had 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting for the Cougars.
“Charleston has played a very tough non-conference schedule. They have been very competitive in all of their games,” said Coach Jones. “It will be another great challenge for us. They are a really good three-point shooting team; shooting about 37 percent from the three-point line. We will be challenged defensively to contain their shooters. We will have to execute at a high level against them to be successful.”
Charleston is 78-of-206 for 37 percent from the arc.
Jones said that point-guard Josh Gray, who sprained his right ankle on Dec. 13 in the win over Sam Houston State, will be a game-time decision regarding his playing status for Monday night’s game.
If Gray does not go, LSU will probably keep the same lineup as the UAB contest with Tim Quarterman and Keith Hornsby at guards and Jordan Mickey, Jarell Martin and John Odo at forwards. Keith Hornsby had a college career high of 24 points, while Martin led the Tigers with 25 points. Mickey had seven blocks and Quarterman eight assists in the UAB.
The Tigers came from 39-33 down at the half with LSU now 4-1 this year after trailing at the intermission. LSU shot over 56 percent from the field in the second half of the game as LSU scored 46 points in the 79-70 win at Bartow Arena against the Blazers.
Freshman Jalyn Patterson also had his best game of the year as he played 33 minutes off the bench, hitting 4-of-8 field goals including three treys to score 11 points with three assists and no turnovers.
After Monday’s game, the Tigers will be off until the team has to return to campus on the evening of Dec. 26. LSU will play again on Dec. 29 at 6 p.m. against Southern Mississippi and at 6 p.m. on Jan. 3 against Savannah State before beginning play on Jan. 8 at Missouri.
Follow updates on the game Monday night at www.Facebook.com/LSUBasketball, on Twitter @LSUBasketball and other updates on the team on Instagram @LSUBasketball.