The LSU men’s basketball team entered a four-game homestand with a 4-4 overall record, losing four of its last five games away from home. But after Saturday afternoon’s contest against Oral Roberts at the PMAC, junior guard Tim Quarterman is convinced the first 10 games of the season happened the way they did for a reason.
“We went through those losses for a reason,” Quarterman said. “To humble us as a team.”
The Tigers (6-4) jumped out to a huge first-half lead and maintained a double-digit advantage for more than 30 minutes of the game as they defeated Oral Roberts, 100-77, for their second consecutive win.
Though he notched just four points in the first half, freshman forward Ben Simmons led all scorers with 24 points to go with nine rebounds and seven assists. Despite his noteworthy stat line, it was the first time in eight games in which Simmons didn’t record a double-double.
But LSU coach Johnny Jones wasn’t even sure if his standout rookie would play today after missing the last two practices.
“I just think he could have gotten 50, 18 and 14 if he hadn’t been banged up,” Jones joked.
While Simmons did most of his first half damage as a facilitator and rebounder, the Tigers received an even offensive distribution to lead by as many 24 points.
In just his second career game with LSU after regaining eligibility, sophomore forward Craig Victor was aggressive from the opening tip, scoring nine of the Tigers’ first 19 points. Like his debut, though, Victor battled foul trouble throughout, playing just seven minutes in the first half and 14 for the game.
“It was just the way the refs called the game,” Victor, who finished with 13 points, said. “It wasn’t really a physical game like I wanted to play. I had to adjust.”
But it didn’t matter much as all 10 Tiger contributors had at least a point in the first half, led by nine points apiece from Victor and freshman guard Antonio Blakeney. Blakeney finished the game with 12 points on 3-of-6 shooting from three-point territory.
While the LSU offensive production in the first half was balanced, the Tigers’ defensive intensity carried over from the win against Gardner-Webb on Wednesday, holding the Golden Eagles (8-5) to just 10 made field goals heading into halftime. At one point, the Tigers went on 20-5 run in more than seven minutes of play in the first half.
In the second half, Simmons flexed his offensive muscles, shooting 8-of-9 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free throw line. In less three minutes in the second half, the 6-foot-10 forward scored 11 straight points before a media timeout at the 11:11 mark.
Despite recording just 11 points in the victory against the Runnin’ Bulldogs, today was the fifth time Simmons scored at least 20 points.
“I was just trying to be more assertive and aggressive and attack the rim,” Simmons said. “I know not many people can guard me once I catch it around the elbow. I was trying to get to the rim and find the open man.”
Senior guards Keith Hornsby and Josh Gray joined Victor and Blakeney as LSU players in double figures with 13 and 12 points, respectively. For the second time in as many games, the Tigers won the rebounding battle with five different players recording at least five rebounds. LSU also assisted on 21 of 36 made baskets.
The Golden Eagles were more sound offensively in the second half, shooting 52.9 percent from the field, which prevented the Tigers from stretching out their lead. But Jones was pleased with what his team did in other aspects of the game, highlighted by LSU’s second 100-point performance of the season.
“Any time we have a balanced scoring attack and are rebounding the ball with the effort on the defensive end that we had, some good thing can happen for us,” Jones said. “And they did today.”
LSU returns to action against American on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m from the PMAC.