LSU Defeats Northwestern St., 87-78

Courtesy---lsusports.net/espn.com

It wasn't a perfect opening night but freshman Ralston Turner and Andre Stringer had nice first games as they led the LSU Tigers in scoring as they posted an 87-78 win over Northwestern State Friday night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

The win marked the 82nd consecutive time the Tigers have defeated a state school in the PMAC, dating back to the start of the streak on Dec. 8, 1988.

The good news in the game was Turner and Stringer each scoring 21 points, with Stringer hitting four long-range three-pointers and Turner getting three treys. A "new" Aaron Dotson now completed healed from his knee injury in his senior high school season, was 5-of-5 from the field in scoring 17 points and Malcolm White in his first game after sitting out his transfer year from Ole Miss, posted 12 points.

For the game LSU hit 59.1 percent from the floor (24-of-40), 7-of-15 from three-point range and 32-of-46 from the free throw line in what was a tightly called game most of the way.

The things for improvement included 25 turnovers that Northwestern got 28 points off of and a 24-9 Northwestern State offensive rebound margin.

"I can tell you like I told them that I like winning as much as anyone," said LSU Coach Trent Johnson, but I like playing well. I didn't expect to give up 24 offensive rebounds and have 25 turnovers. I've never been concerned about the offensive side because we have some guys that can shoot the ball, and we have some guys that can pass."

Will Pratt played 30 minutes off the bench and hit 10-of-20 field goals in a 29 point night with five steals while Devon Baker had 16 points and Gary Stewart 13. The Demons shot 41.4 percent from the floor (29-of-70) and 7-of-26 from the arc (26.9%). The Demons had 27 free throw attempts but made only 13.

LSU jumped out to an early 25-9 lead but the Demons were able to whittle the margin down and took a 38-34 lead with three minutes to go in the opening stanza. But Stringer hit a three and Turner got a three, followed by another Stringer trey and LSU was back up by five, 43-38. At the half, LSU led, 43-41.

The Demons rallied to take two small leads in the first four minutes of the second half but LSU was gradually able to pull away in the second half to ice the win.

The Tigers take on Nicholls State Tuesday night at 7 p.m.

Technicals: None
Officials: Carlos Gonzalez ,Bert Smith ,Tony Greene
Attendance: 7,842