A struggling LSU men’s basketball team needed a win to stay in a tie for second place and the Tigers came through with their best game in February. Four LSU players scored in double figures as the Bayou Bengals defeated South Carolina 86-80. Darius Days had 18 points, 4-of-6 from three-point territory. Javonte Smart also had 18 points, Trendon Watford had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Skylar Mays had 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
Defense has been an issue for LSU lately, but the Tigers held the Gamecocks to 37-percent shooting. USC hit nine three-pointers, but several of them came in the final minutes to whittled down LSU’s double-digit lead.
With the win, LSU improves to 19-8, 10-4 in the SEC. The Tigers are at Florida on Wednesday, who lost at Kentucky.
In Denton, Texas, Louisiana Tech picked up a huge win over the Conference USA leader. DaQuan Bracey had 26 points in the 73-71 win over the Mean Green. Bracey scored the final 11 points for the Bulldogs. The win improves the Dunkin Dogs league record to 11-4, while the North Texas falls to 12-3.
In the Sun Belt, ULM upended the Ragin Cajuns 83-77. Michael Ertel led the way with 22 points for the Warhawks. UL-Lafayette is in 10th place and occupy the final spot for the Sun Belt Tournament. But Saturday’s win, puts ULM within one game of the Cajuns.
In the Southland, Nicholls scored just 18 points in the first half and lost to Central Arkansas 84-65. The loss drops the Colonels into 3rd place in the Southland standings. McNeese lost its sixth straight as the Cowboys lost to UNO 82-77. But the Pokes are still in eighth place and occupy the final spot for the conference tournament.
And after losing nine in a row, Tulane now has a two-game winning streak. The Green Wave rallied to beat UCF 75-74. Senior K.J. Lawson led the way for the Wave with 21 points.
