by www.LSUsports.net, LSU Sports Interactive
BATON ROUGE -- In the end, it was obvious that it was just the first exhibition game for the fifth-ranked LSU men's basketball team Thursday night at the Maravich Assembly Center.
Coach John Brady and his players know that they still are a work in progress after a 70-65 win over a tough minded EA Sports traveling team of former collegiate players. The Tigers conclude the exhibition season on Wednesday (Nov. 15) against Louisiana College and open the regular season on Friday, Nov. 17, against Nicholls State.
EA Sports is now 1-4 on its present tour but has yet to lose a game by more than five points as they took advantage of some sloppy Tiger play in the final 12 minutes to cut a 17-point LSU lead down to the final margin, outscoring the Tigers, 31-19.
"I thought we tried to defend at times and we rebounded the ball okay as the game went along," said LSU Coach John Brady. "However, we missed many open shots and that was the thing that disturbed me the most was our inability to make shots. We had some careless turnovers that allowed them to get back in the game. The decisions we made determined that. We made some indecisions with the ball that led to turnovers. They had 26 points off turnovers."
LSU shot 40 percent for the game, 26-of-65, but just 1-of-7 from the arc. But defensively the Tigers held EA Sports to just 33.8 percent (23-of-68). LSU out rebounded the traveling team, 51-38.
Glen Davis had 16 points and 14 rebounds, hitting 8-of-9 free throws, while Dameon Mason had 14 points. Darnell Lazare had 12 and Tasmin Mitchell 10 for LSU. Geoff Husted had 21 points and 10 boards, while Jason Forte added 15 for EA Sports.
"We had a chance to get back in the game," said EA Sports Coach Maury Hanks. We played a lot harder in the last five minutes of the game. LSU is too good of a team to take possessions off. Early in the game we took possessions off, and they made us pay for it. It was a good game."
LSU HEAD COACH JOHN BRADY QUOTES
Opening statement...
“I thought we tried to defend at times and we rebounded the ball ok as the game went along. However, we missed many open shots and that was the thing that disturbed me the most was our inability to make shots. We had some careless turnovers that allowed them to get back in the game. We had a 17-point lead with about eight minutes to go and we had a break in the game where I told them ‘In the next five minutes we are either going to put them away or let them back in the game.’ The decisions we made determined that. We made some indecisions with the ball that led to turnovers. They had 26 points off turnovers.”
On Glen Davis...
“I thought Glen was trying to do too much early in the game. He was trying to score off the dribble way too much. They didn’t guard us outside the three-point line - they backed three feet away from us. They were almost playing a man zone, which didn’t allow us to get the ball into Glen. We understand we are going to see some of that. His teammates have to help him by making some outside jump shots.”
On Tasmin Mitchell...
“Tasmin took some good shots, but he still missed a couple that he is going to have to make for our team to be successful.”
On the team’s perimeter shooting...
“I thought Dameon played well after being out for a year, but we are going to need somebody to jump up and make some baskets from outside the perimeter. Garrett Temple or Tasmin Mitchell could be that guy. They don’t have to shoot deep three pointers but they need to be consistent and make some 17-18 foot jump shots and we weren’t able to do that tonight. I think that is why tonight’s game wasn’t an attractive game to watch.”
On the team’s defense...
“I thought we defended pretty well and really that is the thing more than anything that has gone well in practice. Those of you who have covered me know that is the thing we try to work out first, because the offense always kind of works it self out as we move it along. We allowed them some transition basket really early.”
EA SPORTS HEAD COACH MAURY HANKS
Opening Statement
"We had a chance to get back in the game. We played a lot harder in the last five minutes of the game. LSU is too good of a team to take possessions off. I really stressed that. Early in the game, we took possessions off, and they made us pay for it. They shot 52 percent in the second half. Glen Davis is a load in the middle, 16 (points) and 14 (rebounds) and makes his free throws. I thought we did a really good job on him early in the game. We made him pass the ball and double teamed. It was a good game. They did a really good job on the offensive glass."
On comparing LSU to other teams they have faced ...
"Creighton was the 23rd-ranked team in the preseason. They didn't play with their point guard, but LSU has better athletes and more depth. They are going to miss Darrel Mitchell, but Coach (John) Brady, by the time next week comes around, he will have them where they need to be."
On his team's performance during the exhibition season ...
"A lot of the guys are going to go play in the NBDL or CBA. I have a few guys I still have to find spots for. Overall, when you only lose to one of the top-ranked teams in the country by five. We should have beat Iowa State. We loss at the buzzer. We beat Utah State and loss to a good Providence team. Overall, we are very happy."
