By GLENN GUILBEAU, Tiger Rag Editor
LSU basketball coach Will Wade is demanding better play from his team as the Tigers (2-0) host Louisiana Tech (2-0) on Monday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center (7 p.m., SEC Network+) on Military Appreciation Night.
The Tigers got double-doubles from three players on Friday night in a 92-51 win over Texas Southern, but LSU trailed 11-7 in the first five minutes and shot 57 percent from the field (36 of 63) and 5 of 22 from three-point range (27 percent). The Tigers also committed 14 tunrovers and hit only 15 of 25 (60 percent) from the free throw line.
“Good win. We did what we needed to do to win,” Wade said. “But certainly need to play cleaner. We have a quick turnaround with Louisiana Tech. That’ll be the best of these three teams we’ve played, so we’re going to need to play cleaner.”
LSU won its opener, 100-57, over LSU-New Orleans last Tuesday.
Forward Saliou Niang led LSU with 15 points and 11 rebounds Friday, while center Michael Ruzic scored 12 withe 11 rebounds. Point guard Donovan Dent hit 10 points and had 10 assists.
“It’s just not sustainable how we’re playing,” Wade said. “The free throw line kills us too. We could never get going in the first half (Friday) because when you get an offensive rebound, and you get fouled and miss two free throws, it’s like a turnover. We did that multiple times, so it makes it tough sledding.”
Louisiana Tech is coming off home wins over Kent State, 85-75, and Arkansas-Monticello, 76-17. Brayton Wenger leads Tech with 20.5 points a game.
Dent, Ruzic and Niang are all averaging 14.5 points to lead the Tigers. Niang has a team-high 12.5 rebounds a game.
LSU leads the series with Louisiana Tech, 13-1. The Tigers won the last meeting, 66-57, on Dec. 18, 2021, in Bossier City.
After Monday, LSU plays at No. 15 Gonzaga (2-0) in Spokane, Washington, on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on USA Sports television.
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