LSU Tigers (4-4 0-0 Southeastern Conference) vs. Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs (4-6, 1-1 Big South Conference)
When/Where: 6:00 p.m. at Pete Maravich Assembly Center | Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Television: SEC Network
Radio: WDGL-FM 98.1 (Baton Rouge)
LSU’s last game: After missing the first seven games of the season following a medical procedure, senior guard Keith Hornsby returned to the starting lineup without a hitch, pouring in a career-high 32 points with a 6-for-10 clip from beyond three-point line. But Houston withstood Hornsby’s game-tying triple at the end of regulation to win in overtime, 105-98. In LSU’s second true road game of the season, which came after a break for finals week, the loss was the fourth in five games for the Tigers. LSU gave up 50 points in the paint and allowed 20 second-chance points while being outrebounded by 13. With freshman forward Ben Simmons fouling out with more than two minutes remaining in the game, the Cougars outscored LSU, 21-14, in the extra period.
Gardner-Webb’s last game: Senior guard Adonis Burbage came off the bench and dropped 16 points on 4-of-6 shooting from behind the arc as the Runnin’ Bulldogs blew past Furman on the road, 73-53. Led by Burbage, Gardner-Webb shot 8-of-18 from three-point territory and 57.1 percent from the field. Junior freshman Tyrell Nelson’s double-double (14 points, 7 rebounds) helped the Runnin’ Bulldogs win the rebounding battle, 30-23.
LSU’s possible starters:
Junior [G] Tim Quarterman (6’6”): 15.4 ppg., 5.1 rpg., 3.6 apg.
Freshman [G] Antonio Blakeney (6’4”): 11.5 ppg., 3.9 rpg., 1.3 apg.
Senior [G] Keith Hornsby (6’4”): 32.0 ppg., 1.0 rpg., 3.0 apg. (season debut against Houston)
Freshman [F] Ben Simmons (6’10”): 19.0 ppg., 14.8 rpg., 5.9 apg.
Sophomore [C] Elbert Robinson III (7’1”): 5.3 ppg., 3.2 rpg.
LSU’s top reserves:
Senior [G] Josh Gray (6’1”): 8.9 ppg., 2.6 rpg., 2.4 apg.
Freshman [G] Brandon Sampson (6’5”): 8.3 ppg., 2.1 rpg., 1.3 apg.
Sophomore [F] Aaron Epps (6’9”): 5.9 ppg., 2.5 rpg.
Sophomore [F] Craig Victor (6’9”): 3.1 ppg., 1.1 rpg. (8 games with University of Arizona in 2014)
Note: Sophomore guard Jalyn Patterson, junior forward Brian Bridgewater and junior forward Brandon Eddleston are not dressed out for tonight’s game. 
Gardner-Webb starters:
Senior [G] Harold McBride (6’0”): 13.1 ppg., 3.4 rpg., 3.6 apg.
Senior [G] Dylan Poston (6’4”) 8.1 ppg., 2.0 rpg., 0.7 apg.
Senior [G] Isaiah Ivey (6’2”): 9.3 ppg., 4.8 rpg., 0.9 apg.
Junior [F] Tyrell Nelson (6’7”): 14.3 ppg., 6.9 rpg., 2.0 apg.
Sophomore [C] L’Hassane Niangane (6’10”): 1.5 ppg., 3.9 rpg., 1.0 apg.
Gardner-Webb top reserves:
Senior [G] Adonis Burbage (6’5”): 10.9 ppg., 2.3 rpg.
Freshman [G] David Efianayi (6’2”): 9.2 ppg., 1.2 rpg., 1.6 apg.
Freshman [G] Laquincy Rideau (6’1”): 5.7 ppg., 2.1 rpg., 3.0 apg.
Things to watch for:
Hail to the Victor: While Hornsby’s season debut against Houston was stellar, the LSU debut of a home-state product could be the final piece to get the ball rolling for the Tigers. Victor, a New Orleans native who transferred from Arizona last fall, has gained eligibility after sitting out a full-calendar year per NCAA rules. Despite limited minutes in a crowded Wildcat frontcourt, the former four-star prospect has been billed by Jones and his teammates as an energetic and hard-nosed presence in practice. Though he doesn’t think it will be a “cure-all,” Jones expects Victor’s toughness to be a shot in the arm for a team that has struggled to rebound and defend in the paint, especially in the loss to Houston. If Victor can do the little things well, the rest of the Tigers might take his lead.
No more bad losses: With a 4-4 record in nonconference play, the once-ranked Tigers can’t afford another loss to a mid-major opponent. At this point in the season, the Tigers don’t have a significant win to its name with a strength of schedule ranked in the bottom half of the nation. LSU’s next four games are at home, where all four of its wins have occurred, before the start of SEC play, so the Tigers could boost its résumé with a sweep of those games. But LSU certainly can’t get ahead of itself; it will have to start to tonight against the Runnin’ Bulldogs, which should be looking to steal a road win from a struggling power-conference team.
Foul Play: Ben Simmons has played in eight games in his college career and has already fouled out of two of them. Simmons said he thinks some of the fouls are bad calls and others are a product of him being aggressive for rebounds and on the defensive end. The Tigers need help in those areas so Simmons isn’t going to slow his aggression. He said he hopes the addition of Victor adds rebounding and athleticism that allows him to avoid foul trouble going forward.