Before the biggest crowd ever in the PMAC’s current seating configuration, LSU lost a hard fought game, 80-70, to No. 13 Musketeers  Saturday night.
The loss was the Tigers’ first home loss of the season.
LSU led at the half, but a scoring drought early in the second half left the Tigers with a deficit they couldn’t overcome.
“We knew coming in that Xavier was a tough physical team,” said LSU senior guard Marcus Thornton. “They showed that tonight. They executed down the stretch, and they came out with the win.”
LSU junior forward Tasmin Mitchell had a rough night from the floor scoring 12 points on 5-of-17 shooting. Thornton added 30 for the Tigers, but his shots didn’t fall as easily in the second half as they did in the first.
Thornton was 6-of-9 in the first half but 4-of-9 in the second half with most of his field goals coming in the game’s final minutes.
“Jump shots just didn’t go in,” Mitchell said.
 Xavier junior forward Derrick Brown led the musketeers in scoring with 22 points.
“I really thought Derrick Brown was the best player on the court,” said Xavier coach Sean Miller. “He really made some big timely three- point shots.”
 
 
 
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Contact Amos Morale at [email protected]