The LSU men’s basketball team’s shabby defense has raised eyebrows thus far this season, but that may have changed Wednesday night as the Tigers (4-2) defeated Nicholls State in the PMAC, 68-41. LSU entered Wednesday allowing 76 points per game but sharpened up its defensive play in front of a crowd of 7,704. The victory increased LSU’s home winning streak against in-state competition to 65 games. The Tigers have not lost at home to an in-state opponent since their December 1988 loss to Louisiana Tech. Nicholls State (1-6) shot only 30 percent from the floor Wednesday and hit 5-of-24 shots from behind the arc. “We didn’t let them set their feet, so that really got them out of their comfort zone,” said junior center Chris Johnson. The Colonels also struggled from the free-throw line, knocking down 4-of-14 attempts from the charity stripe. LSU coach John Brady said the Tigers need to find a way to put a decent offensive and defensive performance together during the same game, something LSU has had difficulty doing this season. “We got our defense a little bit better but become careless on offense,” Brady said. “Now we’ve got to be efficient on both ends.” The Tigers shot 52 percent from the floor and 73 percent from the free-throw line against the Colonels but missed several opportunities. LSU committed 21 turnovers, but Nicholls State translated those mistakes into only 16 points. “We’re learning,” Brady said. “We’re a work in progress. We made a couple of careless mistakes. Hopefully, with a little more experience, we’ll get better at that.” Nicholls junior forward Ryan Bathie led the Colonels with 11 points, and sophomore guard Michael Czepil added 10. LSU junior college transfer Marcus Thornton led the Tigers with 24 points, 17 of which came in the second half. Johnson scored in double-figures for the fourth straight game, scoring 16 points and grabbing six rebounds. Johnson, who started five of LSU’s six games this season, provided a much-needed spark for the Tigers after halftime. Johnson’s three dunks in a two-minute span helped push LSU’s lead to 20 points early in the second half. After already being shorthanded because of an ankle injury to junior forward Tasmin Mitchell, the Tigers had to adjust their rotation early in the game when freshman forward Anthony Randolph picked up his second foul 3:01 into the game. Johnson said he spoke with Mitchell shortly after the Denham Springs native learned he would miss six to eight weeks of action. “He came in personally and told me I was going to have to play [well] and help [junior guard] Garrett [Temple] out with the leadership,” Johnson said. Randolph’s foul trouble, coupled with the already injury depleted lineup, forced seldom used reserves Alex Farrer and Garrett Green to see action against the Colonels. The two reserves combined for five points and six rebounds in 15 minutes of play. Junior forward Dameon Mason returned to LSU’s lineup Wednesday, scoring two points and grabbing four rebounds. Mason missed the Tigers’ previous four games with a viral infection around his heart. LSU returns to action Friday night when they face Southern in the PMAC.
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