All signs pointed toward a sluggish start for the LSU basketball team Saturday night.
Thirteen days removed from their last game action and fresh off a batch of final exams, the lethargic Tigers came out just as expected against ULM.
But a strong opening to the second half ignited by freshman forward Jordan Mickey and junior guard Anthony Hickey put to rest any brimming upset hopes as the Tigers (6-2) grabbed a workman-like 61-54 victory in the PMAC.
“I thought we’d be ready, I thought we’d play our normal game,” senior guard Andre Stringer said. “But we didn’t do that. We were definitely a little sluggish, a little rusty.”
Mickey led all scorers with a career-high 25 points, chipped in nine rebounds and five blocks, including two emphatic second-chance dunks in the early moments of the second half as the Tigers seized control.
The Dallas native became the first LSU freshman since Shaquille O’Neal to score in double digits in his first eight games.
“I just wanted to be able to come in and play my role and help my team in any way I could,” Mickey said. “I wasn’t trying to come in and be the leading scorer in this game.”
It looked as if Mickey and senior guard Andre Stringer would supply all the scoring from the opening tip, as the duo combined for the first 14 Tiger points and LSU raced out to a 12-4 lead.
But as they did for most of the game, the Warhawks clawed back, reeling off a 10-3 run to erase the Tiger lead and capture their only lead of the contest at 22-20 with just over seven minutes until halftime.
As his team held a tenuous 31-26 lead at the break, LSU coach Johnny Jones had stern words for his group after he perceived a lackadaisical first half.
“I got on them at halftime,” Jones said. “I didn’t expect us to come out and be sharp and crisp because of the layoff. But the sense of urgency that I think you have to play with night in and night out wasn’t there to a man to our team tonight.”
Jones’ words seemed to work as the Tigers raced out to a 16-point lead within the first five minutes of the half, ignited by two consecutive steals from Hickey that led to layups.
Hickey finished with three steals and four assists in 24 minutes while Stringer was the only other Tiger in double figures, scoring ten points.
Coupled with the Tigers full-court press and Mickey’s presence inside, the LSU lead swelled to 18 with just under five minutes left in the contest and all seemed to be in order.
But with the starters out, the LSU bench was abused late in the game as ULM trimmed its deficit to seven, closing the game on an 11-0 run to produce the 61-54 final score.
Although he applauded his team’s ability to grind out the win, the run to end the game didn’t sit well with Jones.
“After the game, I was probably as tough on them as I was at halftime,” Jones said. “I wasn’t happy with the way we finished the game.”

Gallery • 6 Photos

Richard Redmann

LSU freshman guard Tim Quarterman drives toward the goal Dec. 14, 2013 during the Tiger's 61-54 victory against University of Louisiana at Monroe in the PMAC.