Well, this game actually followed the script.
LSU was playing an in-state opponent from a weaker conference. Supposed to be a breeze. LSU has had trouble with these teams in recent years, though.
Not this time.
Senior forward Tasmin Mitchell had 19 points, junior guard Bo Spencer added 18 points and LSU rolled to an easy 83-60 victory Tuesday against McNeese State in the PMAC. The win ended the Tigers’ three game skid and looked impressive after the Cowboys were fresh off pushing No. 20 Texas Tech to the brink in a one-point loss Friday.
“Obviously, we needed to play well and we needed to win and we did that,” said LSU coach Trent Johnson. “We executed very well, I thought. Our defensive energy and our confidence were very good. It was a good win for us.”
Johnson wasn’t kidding. After an ordinary first half, the Tigers caught fire in the second period to the tune of 73 percent from the field and 7-9 from the three-point distance, good for 77 percent.
The first half seemed to roll off the same assembly line as many of LSU’s performances against in-state competition. The Tigers showed flashes, but were never consistent. Mitchell notched 12 points and Spencer logged 10. Sophomore forward Storm Warren had an unusually quiet half, only scoring four points. Warren finished with 10 points and five rebounds.
McNeese kept it close. The Cowboys’ biggest deficit was a mere deficit, although they never led. McNeese State junior point guard C.J. Collins’ three-pointer with two seconds left in the half helped cut the Tiger lead to two points as the teams headed to the locker room with the score 33-31.
The first few minutes of the second half were similar — the Cowboys maintained. Then LSU awoke.
With the score close at 38-35, freshman guard Aaron Dotson ignited an 8-0 blitzkrieg that would knock out the Cowboys. After rattling in a three-pointer, Dotson picked up a loose ball and raced down the court, eventually posterizing Cowboy senior center Elbryan Neal. Spencer swished a three on the next possession to push the lead to 11. The Cowboys would never sniff a lead for the remainder of the contest.
Dotson’s outburst was a welcome sight for Tiger coaches and fans alike. The Seattle native arrived in Baton Rouge as a ballyhooed recruit. However, a lingering knee injury slowed Dotson for most of the season. Tonight was different, though.
“It’s been really important for me to help these guys out all year,” Dotson said. “A lot of the games we’ve lost, I haven’t been anywhere on the scoring charts to help these guys, including Storm. It was a good confidence booster for me.”
Johnson’s alleged tiff with Spencer was non-apparent Tuesday. Spencer had an excellent night shooting, but that isn’t what Johnson was concerned about. He was concerned about the questions raised by many media outlets about team chemistry after Johnson’s postgame outburst Saturday after LSU’s 61-59 loss to Utah.
“Our program, our base, our chemistry or whatever you want to call it, that’s not going anywhere,” Johnson said. “In three years, if there’s some slippage, then we can talk about it. Whoever beats us from here on out, it’s going to be because they’re better. It’s not going to be because Coach Johnson is knocking a microphone away or I’m screaming at one of my guys.”- – – -Contact Chris Branch at [email protected]