The LSU Tigers earned their tenth victory of the season Friday night as they cruised past the ULM Warhawks by a score of 81-69. The Tigers will enter conference play next month with an improved record of 10-3, while the Warhawks fall to 7-5 on the season.
Freshman Naz Reid led the Tigers with 19 points and 12 rebounds, earning the first double-double of his college basketball career. His 12 rebounds serve as his highest so far, and 19 points is his best since dropping 29 against UNC Greensboro.
Tremont Waters rejoined the starting lineup after coming off the bench in the last two games. He snagged 7 steals in the first half but would “only” finish with 8, his most in one game since last January’s win over Texas A&M. Waters did, however, score 11 points and dish out 10 assists, earning his second double-double of the season.
Three other Tigers scored double digits tonight. Skylar Mays scored 14 points and would be the only Tiger to finish shooting 50% from the arc with more than two attempts. Emmitt Williams, in all his leggy glory, scored 12 points and only finished two rebounds off a double-double himself. After an awful 0-for-7 shooting start, Ja’Vonte Smart scored all ten of his points in the second half, helping the Tigers finally pull away from a single digit lead.
Marlon Taylor didn’t have the most impressive stat line with 6 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists, but all six of those points came from dunks and boy did they assert authority. You’ve really got to get out to a game if you haven’t already, if anything to watch Marlon Taylor throw down a handful of freakish, athletic dunks. Taylor also got the nod to start tonight as Wade ran with a four guard set, he just plays well with those guys. He’s got a great nose for the ball and clearly doesn’t fear gravity, he’ll be something special to watch over the next season and a half.
The Tigers will move on to conference play next month, opening with the Alabama Crimson Tide on Tuesday, January 8th. The Tide is currently 8-3 with games against Stephen F. Austin and Kentucky coming up beforehand.