LSU sophomore guard Aaron Dotson had plenty of reasons to enjoy the Tigers’ rare win Wednesday night.
Dotson, who more than doubled his season point average with 16 points, provided a spark off the bench with a 3-of-5 outing from the 3-point line.
But the 6-foot-4-inch guard immediately shifted his focus to LSU’s (11-17, 3-10) next opponent, Vanderbilt, instead of soaking up the spoils of the long-sought-after victory.
“I immediately thought about Vanderbilt, the next game,” Dotson said. “It doesn’t mean anything if we don’t keep winning.”
The Tigers will be budding with confidence Saturday when the Commodores (20-7, 8-5) come to Baton Rouge for the 12:45 p.m. contest.
LSU got back on the winning side Wednesday night after losing 10 straight, beating Mississippi State, 84-82, with clutch plays from junior forward Garrett Green and freshman point guard Andre Stringer.
“It was our composure and our ability to not get down on ourselves,” LSU coach Trent Johnson said about winning in the final minutes.
The Tigers have already turned the page on the exciting third Southeastern Conference victory — one more than last season.
“Those close games are going to start pushing in our favor. … Good things will start to happen.” Green said.
A repeat performance from LSU’s bench players could give the Tigers their best chance to start a winning streak.
LSU’s 34 bench points Wednesday helped the team score 84 points, the team’s biggest offensive output since Northwestern State came to Baton Rouge on Nov. 12.
“That’s what this team, going into the year, we thought would be like earlier on in terms of everybody contributing,” Johnson said.
The Tigers were hot from the 3-point line in the first half Wednesday, shooting 57.1 percent from behind the arc against the Bulldogs. Vanderbilt’s defense poses a steep test, as the Commodores rank second in the SEC in defending treys.
The Commodores are playing for a bye in the SEC tournament, which begins March 10 in Atlanta, and are fighting for a berth in the NCAA tournament.
They are currently second in the SEC East behind Florida.
ESPN’s Joe Lunardi listed Vanderbilt as a No. 5 seed in Monday’s bracket prediction.
Vanderbilt’s position may have dropped slightly after a 60-51 loss to state rival Tennessee on Tuesday night after the Commodores blew an 11-point second-half lead.
“Coming off a loss, we’re going to get their best effort,” Johnson said.
Follow Michael Lambert on Twitter @TDR_Lambert.
 
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Contact Michael Lambert at [email protected]