Lucky number seven was the game needed to break the LSU men’s basketball team’s six-game losing streak.
The Tigers (14-10, 3-7) defeated the University of Arkansas Razorbacks (15-9, 4-6) 71-67 Saturday in the PMAC.
The Tigers led by as much as 10 points with 9:34 remaining in the game before the Razorbacks cut the deficit and even took a two-point lead at the 2:30 mark.
“I’ve always said that a good season, or a significant season is the difference to have the ability to win close games,” LSU coach John
Brady said. “This is one [win] … it’s a big one … but it is just one. We need four or five more somehow and we could possibly get it done.”
Junior forward Glen Davis led the Tigers with 19 points and a career-high tying 18 rebounds.
Fifteen of his 19 points came in the second half, and three came on a crucial fourth-chance lay-up and subsequent free throw to give LSU a three-point lead with only 0:42 remaining in the game.
“Win … that’s all I feel,” Davis said of the driving force behind his second-half performance. “That’s all I see. When I’m eating my food, that’s all I eat. Win … that’s all I see … all I feel. I just want to win.”
Arkansas guard and SEC-leading freshman scorer Patrick Beverley led the Razorbacks with 17 points and junior guard Gary Ervin added 16 points with 75 percent shooting from the field.
Arkansas coach Stan Heath said the difference in the game was his team’s inability to stop Davis.
“We didn’t have an answer for Glen Davis,” Heath said in a post-game news conference. “At key times he made big plays, had big rebounds. He’s a dominant force.”
Sophomore forward Tasmin Mitchell added 16 points for the Tigers and sophomore guard Terry Martin scored 13 with nine coming from behind the arc.
Sophomore center Chris Johnson had nine points in 17 minutes of play.
Sophomore guard Garrett Temple had only five points, but all came within the final 5:00 of play.
Temple stole the ball with 0:34 remaining and dunked to give the Tigers a five-point lead with 0:29 to play.
LSU’s starting five changed once again, as Martin and senior forward
Darnell Lazare returned to the lineup.
Brady said junior guard Dameon Mason, who started ahead of Martin in LSU’s 70-67 loss Tuesday to the University of Tennessee, did not play because he was not full speed in practice after suffering from migraines.
Sophomore guard Magnum Rolle started over Lazare on Tuesday, but Brady said he decided to start Lazare after he displayed increased work ethic. Rolle did not play, and Lazare scored seven points in 25 minutes of play.
“Magnum has had two opportunities to start,” Brady said. “Sometimes when you get opportunities you embrace them, and if you don’t embrace them as you should, you may lose the next opportunity. We’re just going to rotate that whole ‘4’ position and see who wants to grab it and step up.”
Freshman guard Alex Farrer played for the first time since playing only three minutes against Mississippi Valley State on Dec. 28.
Farrer played four minutes and was 0-1 from the field.
“I decided to give Alex some minutes,” Brady said. “I thought Alex was solid. I thought he played well and didn’t hurt us.”
Brady said his team must keep the momentum gained from a much-needed win and use it in Wednesday’s away game against Ole Miss.
“We need to play our best at Oxford on Wednesday, who I think is the most improved team in the league right now,” Brady said.
—–Contact Amy Brittain at [email protected]