By Hunt Palmer
THE STORY: History was made Tuesday night in the Maravich Center.
Stetson’s 10 first-half points were the fewest ever scored against the Tigers in the building. The Hatters went the first 9:41 of the ballgame without a point. If 0-for-3 is a hat trick, we’ll call Stetson’s 0-for-16 to start the game a Hatter trick.
Stetson entered the game having lost nine straight. It showed.
The visitors from the Atlantic Sun lacked quickness, strength and shooting ability. LSU’s oppressive defense was far too much both on the perimeter and at the rim. Good looks came few and far between, and when they did come, they rarely fell.
For those wondering, the fewest points LSU has given up in a half came back in 2011 when Auburn scored just six before halftime on the Plains. Prior to that, LSU held North Carolina, of all teams, to nine points in East Rutherford back in 1982. The Tar Heels now play in a building named for their coach that day, and they wear shoes designed by a young shooting guard on that team.
Go figure.
Stetson got into a little bit of a rhythm in the second half and created some buckets. They scored 43 points after intermission which sounds worse than it really looked. But LSU kept its offensive pace and stayed in front by more than comfortable margin. Stetson never drew within 35 in the last 9:45 of the game.
The Tigers were better from a turnover standpoint and did a very good job on the defensive glass considering just how many shots Stetson missed.
Most Power 5 non-conference slates feature a game or three like this one. Not much else to see. LSU returns to action Sunday against New Orleans at 2:00
THE STATS:
Stetson shot just 4-for-31 (13%) in the first half. Mehki Ellison was 3-for-8 making the other eight Hatters who played 1-for-23.
LSU shot 16-for-32 in the first half, a tidy 50%.
The Tigers were 6-for-15 from three in the first half, and five Tigers made one (Sears, Bailey, Carter, Givens, Robert Miller)
LSU’s 37-point halftime lead was its largest since a 38-point lead on Northern Arizona on Dec. 28, 1991.
Vyctorius Miller had been 6-for-20 from three point range over the last five games. He buried 4-of-6 Tuesday.
No Tiger played more than 27 minutes. Sometimes you can use one of those this time of year.
Stetson missed 41 shots and only got seven offensive rebounds. That’s a huge point of emphasis for LSU.
Corey Chest finished with 10 rebounds in just 20 minutes. He’s had double-figure rebounds in five straight games.
LSU limited its turnovers to 11 which only netted Stetson eight points.
LSU shot 14-for-31 from three point range in the game. That’s a season-high in makes.
LSU had 23 assists on 35 made field goals. Curtis Givens dished out six assists to lead the team.
LSU outscored Stetson 21-to-1 in transition.
Sophomore guard Mike Williams did not play. In a game LSU led by 41 points with 7:58 to play in the game, a DNP there feels significant. We have not received any information about an injury, and Williams was dressed out Tuesday night.
THE PLAYS:
Freak of the Week – Daimion Collins 😈
SECN | @CollinsDaimion pic.twitter.com/mtV3e7gQF2
— LSU Basketball (@LSUBasketball) December 18, 2024
Ya Love to See It 🤝
SECN | @DeeFountain0 pic.twitter.com/Kvcrenm4G1
— LSU Basketball (@LSUBasketball) December 18, 2024
A-Bizzzzzzle 🎯
SECN | @adam_benhayoune pic.twitter.com/KqoFzcsaoM
— LSU Basketball (@LSUBasketball) December 18, 2024
THE QUOTES:
Cam Carter on the loss to SMU leading into Tuesday…
“I think the loss was something that we needed. I think winning a lot in a row, you kind of get a little comfortable, and get used to it, and sometimes you need to get hit in the mouth like that. I think it was a good building game for us.”
Carter on the focus since the SMU loss…
“Rebound, rebound, rebound, rebound, turnovers, turnovers, rebound, turnovers.”
Matt McMahon on responding to a loss…
“I’d much rather learn through winning. I don’t want to learn through turning the ball over 13 times in a half. There’s nothing to learn there. That’s just unacceptable. To our players’ credit, though, I agree with his sentiment. How are you going to respond? And, while disappointed in Saturday’s second half, I thought our guys’ approach and preparation was where it needs to be. I think we did get better these last two days, and it carried over into the game.”
McMahon on LSU’s rebounding…
“When you look overall for the year, our three point defense has been good. Our two point defense has been good. When you give up second shot opportunities, those are back breakers. We have to continue to improve there, but I think it was a step in the right direction.”
