The LSU Tigers moved to 5-0 on the year after defeating the Omaha Mavericks 99-73 in a reunion game for the Tigers’ star forward.
Marquel Sutton spent three years wearing red, white and black in Omaha, and in his first year for LSU, he helped his new team defeat his old friends. He finished the game with nine points and eight rebounds.
The Tigers came into this game riding a four game streak scoring 90 points or more, and their red hot offense continued at the start of the game. A 12-0 run started the scoring just a few minutes in, and the team never looked back.
The LSU defense had appeared stronger at the start of this battle. The aforementioned run that LSU’s offense went on at the start of the game was matched by their defensive successes in that same period, forcing contested shots and getting rebounds. But that defensive blockade didn’t last long, as the final score shows.
DJ Thomas emphatically said after the game that to keep up their winning pace, the Tigers need to improve on defense. He said Omaha was a tough team to face, but LSU still needs to work on its defense and rebounding.
LSU held leading Maverick scorer Tony Osburn to zeroes on the scoresheet in the first 10 minutes. A strong second half brought him to 13 points at the end.
Both Max Mackinnon and Thomas starred in their LSU debuts a few weeks ago, and they brought the spotlight back on themselves tonight. Mackinnon would finish with 22 and six threes, while Thomas scored all of his 15 points in the first half.
Mackinnon’s six threes came from all over the arc. He said trusting the work he put in through his slump helped him break out of it. The key was just staying comfortable and letting it figure itself out.
While LSU’s typical stars shined, some players who had not seen many minutes got their chance earlier in the game.
PJ Carter had his hand in the high scoring first half. He made three shots beyond the arc in the last two and a half minutes of the half. His nine points in that quick spree are more than he has had in any other single game this year. Carter finished with 12.
“PJ came into this game ready to just shoot,” Thomas said about his teammate. “He just did his job… I’m really proud of the way he stepped up tonight.”
McMahon also praised the way that fifth-year senior has played on defense, part of why he got so many minutes tonight.
“There was a stretch back in October where he was our best perimeter defender, and I think that’s where he can really make an impact on our team,” McMahon said. “It doesn’t just have to be his 3-point shooting.”
Freshmen Ron Zipper and Mazi Mosley’s appearances in the game saw them each nail a 3-pointer to carry on the momentum.
“I thought they both practiced really well and deserved an opportunity to get in the game,” said McMahon.
The steady continuation of LSU’s scoring brought this game to a point where an Omaha comeback was an afterthought. The Tigers weren’t gonna slow down and open the door enough.
Omaha’s attempts to decrease the deficit featured many clean passing plays. Its offense was able to move the ball well and find open men. Despite the strong passing, they only shot 39.4% from the field.
The connection of Thomas and Mike Nwoko continued to mesh well. Thomas’ 10th assist, which gave him a double-double on the night, was sent through the rim at high velocity by the 6-foot, 10-inch Nwoko. Thomas’ 10 assists tonight was the first time a Tiger had reached that mark since Xavier Pinson in February 2022 against Georgia.
“He’s made of all the right stuff,” McMahon said. “All he cares about is winning… He just kept distributing the ball, getting his teammates involved.”
Jalen Reed also had an impressive game. His 7 rebounds were the best among bench players and his 11 points also contributed well to the high-scoring victory.
“He keeps getting better every time out,” said McMahon.
LSU’s win marks the last time they will be at the PMAC for four weeks. The team is getting ready for a long road trip, but is only improving on the court.
“I think we’re just generally [playing] more together,” Mackinnon said. “We’re just gelling more, and we’re super connected, like a real brotherhood.”
