Sophomore guard Terry Martin said he prayed for strength last night and this morning before his first career LSU start.
Martin’s prayers were answered in the form of 23 points in LSU’s 65-63win over the Auburn Tigers.
The Texas Tech University transfer replaced junior guard Dameon Mason for the starting position.
“It helped my confidence a little bit,” Martin said of his first LSU start.
Martin said he learned yesterday after practice that he would replace Mason in the starting lineup.
Although Martin struggled in the first half by shooting less than 29 percent from the field, his second half performance earned him honors as the game’s high scorer.
“Every game I go and try to play to the best of my ability, but I knew if I was going to start, I had to come out and really play,” Martin said. “It helped a lot to go out there warm again. It feels good to walk out there with the starting five.”
LSU coach John Brady said that Martin’s 2-for-6 free-throw shooting may require some extra practice work.
“I was pleased with Terry Martin’s play, but he is going to meet me back here at 7:00 to shoot free throws,” Brady joked. “Terry Martin is a good shooter, and I thought for the most part he was taking good shots. Whether he is making them or missing them he has to be encouraged to shoot them.”
Sophomore guard Garrett Temple said Martin’s second-half play helpedthe Tigers secure the win.
“Terry did great,” Temple said. “We needed him in the second half … he came out. He wasn’t hitting in the first half as much. He came out in the second half and broke it open. His 23 points were real big for us, especially only winning by two.”
Martin said he will work on rebounding and “getting better as a team” before the Tigers’ game Wednesday against Ole Miss.
“Just go out, just try to win basically,” Martin said of his plans.
—–Contact Amy Brittain at [email protected]