LSU defeats Southern Miss 90-62
LSU Dominates Southern Miss in Statement Win
The Pete Maravich Assembly Center was electric on Tuesday night as the No. 23 LSU Tigers (2-0) hosted the Southern Miss Golden Eagles (1-1) in a non-conference matchup that would serve as a statement win for the home team.
From the opening tip, it was clear that LSU would not be denied. The Tigers came out with a 41-30 lead at halftime, thanks to a dominant performance from their frontcourt duo of Mike Nwoko and Pablo Tamba. Nwoko, a senior forward, led the way for LSU with 22 points on an impressive 76.9% shooting clip.
In the second half, LSU continued to build upon its lead, using its bench to great effect. The Tigers' depth paid dividends as they pulled away from Southern Miss, ultimately winning by a final margin of 28 points.
Southern Miss struggled to contain LSU's offense, particularly in the paint. The Golden Eagles were held to just 28 points in the paint, a stark contrast to LSU's 42 points scored in that area.
LSU was led by Nwoko and Tamba, who combined for 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 2 assists. Dedan Thomas Jr. chipped in with 22 points, 12 assists, and a single rebound.
Meanwhile, Southern Miss struggled to find its rhythm on offense. The Golden Eagles shot just 31% from the field and 20% from beyond the arc, making it difficult for them to keep pace with LSU's high-powered attack.
Tylik Weeks led Southern Miss in scoring, but his efforts were ultimately not enough to overcome the Tigers' balanced attack.
"LSU's depth and bench play proved to be too much for us," said Southern Miss head coach. "We knew we had our work cut out for us going up against a well-coached team like LSU."
The win marks the second straight statement victory for LSU, which has now won back-to-back games to start the season.
LSU's 90-point performance was the highest of the season so far and demonstrated the team's ability to score at will. The Tigers' high-powered offense is expected to be a key factor in their success this season.
For Southern Miss, the loss serves as a wake-up call heading into non-conference play. With several key players still recovering from injuries, the Golden Eagles must focus on getting healthy and developing their chemistry moving forward.
The win marked LSU's first victory at home this season.
Overall, it was a dominant performance by #LSU that showcased the team's strength and depth. As they move forward in non-conference play, the Tigers will look to continue building momentum behind their potent offense.