LSU Men’s Basketball defeated the SMU Mustangs 89-77, and they are now 9-1 on the year.

The Tigers didn’t get off to a very good start. Forward Mike Nwoko got in early foul trouble, and it was clear players were going to have to step up.

“We were essentially put in a situation in which we were playing a lineup that we hadn’t practiced all year,” said Head Coach Matt McMahon.

Forwards Marquel Sutton and Pablo Tamaba led the way for the team combining for 37 points and 22 rebounds.

“I just thought they were phenomenal. Warriors, tough, made big-time plays. Both guys had double-doubles on the night”, said McMahon.

The second half story was the guard play of Dedan Thomas Jr, who continues with unselfishness, finishing with 16 points and 12 assists.

“I thought in the second half you saw the beauty of having an elite point guard in D.J. Thomas. We were able to get out in transition or score,” said McMahon.

The Tigers also played their game down low. They finished with 50 points inside the point; more than half of their own points scored, and a lot of that came from Sutton and Tamba.

LSU will return to play at the PMAC after this road stretch where they will face off against the Southeastern Lions on December 19th at 7:00 p.m.