Before LSU’s game against Nicholls State on Monday night, coach John Brady issued redshirt freshman Tyrus Thomas a challenge.
Thomas responded, scoring 22 points in 25 minutes of play in LSU’s 104-57 victory in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center last night.
“I challenged Tyrus a little tonight,” Brady said. “He looks like he goes seven minutes and then gets tired. But I’ve told him we’d do him a favor and run him after practice.”
LSU (2-0) won its second consecutive game at home. The Tigers will not return to the PMAC until Nov. 29 when LSU hosts the University of Houston. LSU will travel to West Virginia this Saturday.
Brady said LSU improved greatly on the defense side since its season opening victory against Southern University.
Nicholls State (0-2) shot just 32.8 percent on the game, while Southern shot 38.3 percent in LSU’s 84-56 win last Friday.
“Our defense had more involvement tonight than against Southern,” Brady said. “Regardless of our opponent, I want opposing teams to think we defend hard and rebound.”
The Tigers got off to a quick start offensively, shooting over 50 percent in the first half.
With LSU ahead 6-2 early, Nicholls’ Michael Czepil nailed a 3-point jump shot to pull the Colonels within one. Yet Nicholls State would not score again until midway through the half as LSU reeled off a 15-0 run at the 11:24 mark.
LSU ended the half on a run as well, outscoring the Colonels 10-2 in the final 4:35 to head into the half up 49-20.
Sophomore Glen Davis led the Tigers with 12 points and 11 rebounds in 15 minutes of play.
“Glen Davis did a great job of establishing our team on the boards early,” Brady said.
LSU’s offense came out just as strong after halftime, outscoring the Colonels 55-37 in the second half in shooting 60 percent from the field.
Senior Darrel Mitchell, who scored 13 points with nine assists in 28 minutes of play, said the team managed to carry a level of intensity over from practice.
“We picked up the defensive intensity in practice yesterday,” Mitchell said. “We wanted to bring that into the game tonight and that’s what we did.”
Thomas, who came off the bench for the second straight game to score in double-digits, said getting the opportunity to be a bench player has worked to his advantage.
“It’s to my advantage in coming off the bench,” Thomas said. “I get to see how the games is being played, so when I get in, it’s automatic for me in knowing what to do.”
With two wins under their belt, the Tigers’ next game is against West Virginia. LSU lost at home to West Virginia last season, 84-69.
“The game was won the way I wanted to win it tonight,” Brady said.
 
Notes:
Brady announced after the game that LSU junior Kentrell Gransberry has quit the team.
Brady said Gransberry is considering the University of Louisiana-Monroe, Southeastern-Louisiana and South Alabama as potential options.
“He wanted a bigger role on our team,” Brady said. “He wanted an opportunity to play. I hope that this move benefits him 10 years down the line.”
In addition, freshman Alex Farrer will be redshirted for the 2005-2006 season.
“He said he needs to gain more maturity,” Brady said. “And I think he is correct in doing that.”