Finally. A dominant victory.
Behind solid performances from LSU’s “big three,” the Tigers waxed a veteran Southeastern Louisiana team, 77-60, on Monday at the PMAC. LSU forwards Storm Warren and Tasmin Mitchell recorded double-doubles, respectively, and guard Bo Spencer logged 21 points in the winning effort. The 17-point victory was welcome after scares from Louisiana-Lafayette and Northwestern State in LSU’s previous two contests.
LSU head coach Trent Johnson was uncharacteristically pleased with the performance.
“One of the first things I mentioned in the locker room after the game is ‘that’s us,'” Johnson said. “That was a good basketball team we beat. We were real good defensively in the second half.”
Mitchell agreed.
Mitchell scored a game-high 24 points and grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds on the way to his second double double of the season. Those stats at small forward are startling in itself.
Mitchell didn’t show any rousing excitement over his performance, though.
“I was just in the right place at the right time,” Mitchell said. “I know where my teammates shots will probably end up, whether on the baseline or at the elbow and whatnot. That’s something I’ve tried to patent over the years.”
Spencer took a more praiseworthy route in his thoughts on Mitchell’s career performance.
“That’s just showing the versatility of Tasmin,” Spencer said. “He can play the three or the four. He’s real versatile.”
The Lions had LSU’s number early and never trailed by more than three points. Senior center Patrick Sullivan proved troublesome by shooting 6-9 from the field in the first period, tallying 14 points and nine rebounds in the process. LSU went to the locker room with a slim 34-31 margin.
No worries. The Tigers distanced themselves in the second half by making a 15-3 run to expand the lead to 15, 49-34. The Lions kept pace after that, but never managed to sniff a lead.
“We didn’t start off like we wanted to,” Mitchell said. “We just came back at the end and executed and wore them down.”
Warren’s defense on Sullivan was the catalyst for the run. Sullivan finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds, with Warren holding him to a mere 5 points in the second half.
“Sullivan pretty much had his way in the first half,” Johnson said. “Storm did a really good job of playing him smart and physical in the second half.”
Spencer’s showing was welcome two nights after a dismal outing against Northwestern State, in which he only managed 5 points.
“I was just healthier,” Spencer said. “My ankle was still tender [Saturday], and I’ve just been rehabbing with [LSU trainer] Shawn Eddy and it felt better tonight. I was just playing my game.”
Mitchell echoed the importance of Spencer playing well.
“We all need him for our team to succeed this year,” Mitchell said. “We need him real bad.”- – – -Contact Chris Branch at [email protected]