by www.LSUsports.net, LSU Sports Interactive
Game 2 Recap: LSU def. Indiana St., 56-45
BATON ROUGE -- The LSU Tigers had to reach way down to find the strength to get past Indiana State, 56-45, in the first round of the south region of the Dick’s Sporting Good NIT Season Tip-Off at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
The Tigers (2-0) are now one win away from a trip to New York City for the NIT semifinals as they advance to the round of eight Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at the Maravich Center where they will meet Western Kentucky, a 69-65 winner over UW-Milwaukee in the opening game of the night.
Tickets are available online at LSUsports.net and beginning at 3:30 p.m. at the Maravich Center upper ticket windows. The first 500 students will be admitted free again courtesy of the LSU Athletics Department and basketball coach Trent Johnson. The first game at 4:30 p.m. in the consolation round matches Indiana State and Milwaukee.
LSU did not have a good night shooting in many respects, hitting just 23-of-67 and missing all 15 three point attempts, but LSU dug down on defense and held Indiana State to just 30.2 percent from the field, 13-of-43.
Storm Warren doubled up for the second straight game with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Bo Spencer and Dennis Harris, who hit 5-of-9 in 21 minutes off the bench, each had 10 points. Tasmin Mitchell missed double figures as Indiana State key’s their defense on him with eight points, but the senior had 14 rebounds.
Dwayne Lathan off the bench was the only player in double figures with 12 for the 1-1 Sycamores.
Indiana State opened up a 6-0 lead within the first five minutes of the game before the Tigers were able to tie the game at 14-14 with 6:23 to go in the half and then took the lead for good on a Harris dunk. LSU led, 24-19, at the half.
Game 1 Recap: Western Kentucky def. Milwaukee, 69-65
BATON ROUGE -- A.J. Slaughter scored 30 points as Western Kentucky, the No. 5 seed, held off UW-Milwaukee , 69-65, in a first-round game Monday night in the Dick’s Sporting Goods NIT Season Tipoff at the South Regional being held at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
Western Kentucky, 1-0, will meet the winner of the late first-round game in Baton Rouge between No. 3 seed LSU and Indiana State. Western Kentucky is one win away from advancing to the NIT semifinals in New York City Thanksgiving Weekend.
Slaughter hit 10-of-16 field goals, including five treys in 34 minutes to lead the Hilltoppers while Sergio Kerusch and Steffphon Pettigrew each had 13 points.
Milwaukee (1-1), had five players in double figures topped by the 13 points of James Eayrs. Patrick Soulter added 12, Ricky Franklin 11 and Deonte Roberts and Tony Meier 10 each.
Milwaukee led, 31-30, at the half. The game featured 16 lead changes.
