When Northwestern State (3-0) invades the PMAC at 7 p.m. tonight, it will try to do something the school hasn’t done since the Eisenhower administration — beat LSU.
The Tigers (2-0) will attempt to slow a high-octane Demon offense that poured in 118 points in its season opener and 92 points in its last outing — a 92-43 win against NAIA opponent Hannibal-LaGrange.
“We’ve got to take care of the basketball,” said LSU coach Johnny Jones. “They’ve done a great job in terms of converting from defense to their offense and getting easy scoring opportunities with layups off fast-break opportunities.”
Jones said playing injured sophomore forward Johnny O’Bryant III will be a game-time decision after he returned to a limited practice Monday.
O’Bryant, who was injured after only 13 minutes of play in the Tigers’ season-opening win, is expected to practice in full today, according to Jones.
Junior forward Shavon Coleman, O’Bryant’s replacement against McNeese, said he is prepared to face a bigger Demon lineup with or without O’Bryant.
“I might face up some instead of posting back,” Coleman said. “I might use my quickness and go to the goal, but I’ll still try to post and score in the post.”
O’Bryant has relished watching his teammates shine while riding the pine, especially on the perimeter — something he said will continue tonight.
“We’ve got the team to hold it down,” O’Bryant said. “The points are going to come, but I want to see them get after it defensively.”
The Demons force 19.3 turnovers per game and are shooting a blistering 54 percent from the field through their first three contests, forcing Jones to adjust defensively.
Outrebounding opponents by a combined 32 points to open the season, the Demons will challenge the Tigers on the boards, an area where the Tigers have struggled with at times.
“If we can manage the rebounding effort and cut down on the turnovers and make sure we get attempts and looks at the basket, that’ll be important for us,” Jones said.
LSU leads the series 16-7 and has not lost to the Demons since a 103-73 rout in 1956.
