The LSU men’s basketball team’s showdown with No. 15 Xavier on Saturday may eventually bolster the Tigers’ chances for success not on the basketball court — but on the football field.The crowd of 12,806 couldn’t help the Tigers defeat a ranked opponent for the first time since Feb. 24, 2007. But fans got a chance to show their excitement before several top football prospects on recruiting visits watching the Tigers’ 80-70 loss to the Musketeers.The crowd erupted into multiple chants of “Rue-ben Ran-dle” during the game once the five-star recruit from Bastrop showed up. The No. 1 wide receiver prospect in the country, according to Rivals.com, is still deciding between LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Auburn.Five-star running back prospect Trent Richardson, who has verbally committed to Alabama, also attended the game, as well as five-star running back Michael Ford and five-star defensive tackle Chris Davenport. Ford and Davenport have both verbally committed to LSU.Other LSU commits at the basketball game included cornerback Janzen Jackson, defensive tackle Joshua Downs, defensive end Mike Brockers, athlete Morris Claiborne and offensive guards Carneal Ainsworth and Josh Williford.Wide receiver Kendall Kelly and defensive ends Sam Montgomery and Bennie Logan were among the uncommitted prospects at the PMAC on Saturday.The large basketball crowd may show its effect on LSU football coach Les Miles’ recruiting class in less than two weeks on National Signing Day on Feb. 4.The Tigers’ 2009 recruiting class is currently ranked the No. 1 class in the country by Rivals.com and No. 3 in the country by Scout.com.CLASS OF 2009 RECRUITS AT SATURDAY’S GAME5-stars: WR Rueben Randle, Bastrop High (La.)5-stars: RB Trent Richardson, Escambia (Fla.) 5-stars: RB Michael Ford, Leesville (La.)5-stars: DT Chris Davenport, Mansfield (La.)4-stars: DE Sam Montgomery, Greenwood (S.C.)4-stars: WR Kendall Kelly, Gadsden (Ala.)4-stars: DT Joshua Downs, Bastrop (La.)4-stars: DE Mike Brockers, Chavez (Texas)4-stars: CB Janzen Jackson, Barbe (La.)3-stars: DE Bennie Logan, Red River (La.)3-stars: OG Carneal Ainsworth, Parkview Baptist (La.)3-stars: OG Josh Williford, Houston Academy (Ala.)3-stars: ATH Morris Claiborne, Fair Park (La.)——Contact Jerit Roser at [email protected]