Not only did LSU senior forward Jaime Lloreda return from a three-game suspension in Monday night’s game against McNeese State at the PMAC, but he returned with a vengeance.
Lloreda recorded the first 30-point, 20-rebound game at LSU since Shaquille O’Neal accomplished that feat in 1992. In all, Lloreda scored 30 points and pulled down 21 rebounds in the Tigers’ (2-0) 87-77 victory over the Cowboys (1-1). He was 11-for-15 from the field and 8-of-17 from the free-throw line.
“It’s always good coming back,” Lloreda said. “My team was doing the job. They knew I was the force in the post, so they just tried to get me the ball like coach told them all week long. That’s what we call execution.”
LSU coach John Brady said Lloreda did as he pleased on the court, and the combination of Lloreda and freshman Brandon Bass would need some help from substitutes. Bass recorded his second double-double in as many games played, scoring 15 points to go along with 12 boards.
“Brandon Bass has played two games at LSU and had a double-double in both games,” Brady said. “I’ve never had a freshman do that since I’ve been here. And Jaime kind of did whatever he wanted to out there. And he got tired. I told some of the guys who didn’t play as much as they would’ve liked I’ve just got to get some confidence to put them in the game and do it and give Brandon and Jaime some rest.”
Even though the Tigers got the win, they were once again sloppy with the ball and downright inept from the free-throw line.
LSU turned the ball over 21 times for the second straight time and were 26-of-47 from the charity stripe.
“That was a roller coaster,” Brady said. “I don’t know what to say about our team. Sometimes I think we play well and it looks like we’re about to separate a score, and all of a sudden we make plays that we shouldn’t make or commit careless fouls we shouldn’t make.”
LSU sophomore guard Darrel Mitchell, who chipped in with 16 points, said the turnover problem can be corrected.
“Basically, we have to be a lot more careful with the ball,” Mitchell said. “Just be more patient. Sometimes, we have a tendency to rush things and turn the ball over. If we just settle down and relax, we’ll cut down on the turnovers.”
The game started inauspiciously for LSU, as McNeese jumped out to an early 9-4 lead.
The Tigers then started entering the ball to Lloreda as he took over and the game was tied at 20 with 9:43 remaining in the first half. LSU then began to pull away, leading 41-32 at the half off 14 points from Lloreda.
But the Cowboys played with a no-quit mentality, as guard Edward Garriet hit five of his eight 3-point shots in the second half. He led McNeese with 24 points. The Cowboys pulled the game to within one point at the 13:08 mark before LSU was able to outscore them 31-22 the rest of the way.
LSU will now host Troy State in its next game at 7 p.m. in the PMAC.