The announced crowd of 11,697 was LSU’s largest in a home opener since November 22, 1991 (13,113 vs. Northeast Louisiana).
Advertisement
“And I think it’s just really – it’s become a part of it and he understands it. I think he’s done a tremendous job of handling it”.
LSU coach Johnny Jones had all three of his highly regarded freshmen in the starting lineup against McNeese State in the opener Friday night. “Coming out of that tunnel and seeing that crowd, it certainly impacts the game”.
There was even pre-game traffic usually reserved for significant Southeastern Conference games.
Well, maybe it took a little bit longer than expected for the 11,967 fans who streamed into the Pete Maravich Assembly Center to see the Tigers’ heralded recruiting class led by 6-foot-10, 240-pound forward Ben Simmons. He also dished out five assists and blocked two shots.
Inevitably, comparisons are already being made between Simmons and a few of the biggest names in basketball history, including hall of famer Magic Johnson, but the Melbourne native said he was not nervous.
“We have to get better”. He also had 10 rebounds. Guard Brandon Sampson added 18 points, while Quarterman finished with 11. “My teammates and coaches believe in me to make plays and that’s what I did”.
The Tigers outscored McNeese, 20-0, to start the second half to take their biggest lead at 61-27 on a 3-pointer by Sampson with 13:51 to play in the second half.
Blakeney shook off a 1-7 start with a three pointer from the left corner to give the Tigers a 22-16 advantage before Jalyn Patterson’s dunk off a Quarterman steal extended the LSU advantage to eight and forced a McNeese State timeout.
Jamaya Burr led the Cowboys with 18 points on 5-of-12 shooting including 7-of-7 from the free-throw line.
After a tough shooting start (6-for-20), the Tigers warmed up to close the first half 9-for-17 and then rattled off the second-half haymaker by knocking down 7-of-8 field goals, including four 3-pointers in a row.
“He’s a facilitator. He got guys open”, Jones said of Simmons.
Blakeney led the Tigers in scoring in the first half with 11 as he put up six of LSU’s final eight of the period on four free throws and a slam dunk, courtesy of a feed from Sampson.
And with a 27-0 Tigers’ surge bracketing the end of the first half and beginning of the second, there were lots of nice, shiny stats to go around.
Advertisement
The Tigers are back in action at 8 p.m. Monday when they play host to Kennesaw State, which lost at Alabama on Friday, 77-63.
