For a squad that looks brand new, the LSU basketball team pulled out some old tricks during its season-opening 92-90 loss at Massachusetts on Tuesday        morning.
After losing freshman forward Jarell Martin to an ankle injury in the opening seconds of the game, the Tigers (0-1) turned to a defensive press, a small lineup and an electric comeback to hang with the Minutemen (2-0). LSU’s gritty performance and late surge were reminiscent of the 2012 team.
The first half was marred by fouls as both squads combined for 34 whistles in 20 minutes. LSU committed 19 fouls in the first half, forcing Jones to dig deep into his bench. Junior forward Johnny O’Bryant III had three fouls at the break, and seven other Tigers had at least two heading into the locker                               room.
Despite the calls, LSU pushed the pace while dishing out 10 assists on 16 buckets. O’Bryant led the way with 13 points and six rebounds, and the Tigers shot 41 percent from the floor to trail 49-45 at                                                     halftime.
The Minutemen raced out on an 11-2 run after the break, stretching their lead to 60-47. LSU pulled back to within five points but suffered a setback when O’Bryant picked up his fourth foul and headed to the bench with more than 13 minutes to play.
Massachusetts reclaimed a 10-point lead before a barrage of 3-pointers from guards Andre Stringer and Anthony Hickey brought the Tigers within one point of tying the game at 73-72. Jones’ smaller lineup fueled the bulk of the Tigers’ 25-13 run, and Hickey finished with 16 points and seven assists.
LSU continued to trade buckets with the Minutemen, and O’Bryant, who recorded 23 points and 11 rebounds, re-entered the game with less than six minutes remaining. But the offense sputtered as the Tigers missed eight straight jump shots to find themselves down 88-80 with about a minute and a half left in the contest,
Jones turned to his press to provide a spark, and LSU responded by forcing three straight turnovers to cut the deficit to three. Though Hickey hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds, Massachusetts sealed the win with four free throws from senior forward Sampson Carter.
The Tigers finished with 29 personal fouls and a 15-of-25 mark from the free throw stripe. The Minutemen shot 46 percent from beyond the arc, and senior guard Chaz Williams dropped 24 points and nine assists.