NEW ORLEANS — Coaches often say basketball is a 40-minute game.
But in LSU’s 85-56 over Arkansas in the first round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament at the Superdome in New Orleans, the Tigers put the game out of reach after the first 20 minutes.
LSU (20-9, 8-8 SEC) shot 55.6 percent from the field in the first half and hit eight 3- pointers en route to a 45-19 halftime lead to extend its winning streak to six games.
Even though the offense was good, head coach John Brady was even happier about his team’s defensive effort.
Arkansas (9-19, 4-12 SEC) shot 32.4 percent from the field for the game and 26.7 percent from the field in the first half.
“Sometimes in the first half, when the ball goes in like we were shooting, it tends to overshadow what we did defensively,” Brady said. “I really thought from a defensive standpoint we were quite good. I think that is really how the game started. I just think from a defensive standpoint what we established early in the game really was the reason we won the game.”
The game started with LSU on fire.
The Tigers nailed three 3-pointers in the first 4:05 of the game and never looked back after that.
LSU hit on five of its first six threes and jumped out to a 24-9 lead with 11:43 remaining in the first half.
“We ran some good offense and made some nice shots,” Brady said. “The score separated pretty quickly, and I am proud of our players for doing what they have done the last eight to ten games.”
      With LSU ahead comfortably, it seemed like the game would go off without incident in the second half.
Around the 10-minute mark with LSU leading 60-32, things began to heat up.
On a loose-ball rebound, LSU senior Ronald Dupree and Arkansas freshman Jonathon Modica got tangled up. Modica proceeded to push and elbow Dupree and was assessed a technical foul after the referees reviewed the replay and saw Modica started the raucous.
Arkansas freshman Eric Ferguson then was tossed from the game for making some choice remarks to Brady.
“It was just two competitive guys going for a loose ball,” Dupree said. “It just so happened I was in better position, you know, and we were just two aggressive players going after it. Of course we didn’t want to get in any scuffles that would hinder our chances in the next game.”
After that incident, cooler heads prevailed, and LSU went on to win by the final margin of 29.
The Tigers picked up their 20th win of the season, and Brady said he thinks there is no chance LSU will be left out of the NCAA Tournament.
“I think we are in,” Brady said of the NCAA Tournament. “I am not politicking. Our team and what it has done speaks for itself. We deserve to be in the NCAA Tournament.”
Collis Temple III led LSU in scoring with 18 points, while Bright chipped in with 17 and Dupree added 14.
LSU now plays Florida today at 2:15 p.m. in the second round of the SEC Tournament in a game Brady thinks LSU can improve its NCAA Tournament seeding in with a win.
“I think anytime we can win another game, particularly against a team the quality of Florida as well coached as they are, if we could somehow find a way to win that game, certainly [we could improve our seeding],” he said. “I think that is what we are playing for. Though that won’t be our motivation to play well and win the game. The motivation our team has is to play the next game the best we possibly can regardless of the circumstance or the situation, coming off five losses or six wins.”