LSU Basketball: 23 Turnovers Power 90-50 Victory
The Tigers forced 23 mistakes and scored 38 points off them to secure their third consecutive win by at least 40 points.
By Ella Cox ·
LSU forced 23 turnovers against Louisiana Tech on Monday, converting the mistakes into 38 points in a 90-50 victory at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The final score extends the Tigers' all-time series lead over the Bulldogs to 14-1. It also marks the first time in program history that LSU has won three straight games by a margin of 40 points or more.
The defensive pressure began immediately, with Saliou Niang disrupting passing lanes and denying entry passes. The 6-foot-8 wing recorded his first steal of the game when he swiped the ball from 6-foot-7 forward Ethan Blackmon during a spin move. Guard Skyy Clark and point guard Donovan Dent led the effort with five steals each. Clark also made his first three-pointer of the season after missing his previous 14 attempts.
Donovan Dent contributed 12 points and five assists. Although he committed one turnover, ending a streak of 20 assists with zero turnovers, he remained a key distributor. The Tigers controlled the pace with just three turnovers in the first half, while Louisiana Tech committed 11. The Bulldogs did not make their second field goal until the 12:21 mark of the game.
Coach Will Wade emphasized that the team's defensive identity was sharper than in their recent 41-point win over Texas Southern. He noted that players like Clark and Dent help the team win through actions beyond shooting. "Everything he does helps you win," Wade said of Clark. "And he had five steals. Donnie had five steals, and so I thought those guys were tremendous."
Forward Mo Dioubate added 15 points before fouling out. He recorded a steal that led to a fast break score, passing to center Michael Ruzic who finished with an and-one layup. Ruzic scored 17 points, continuing a trend of interior scoring over the last three games. Dioubate received a technical foul during a brief shoving match with Blackmon, who also received a technical. Divine Ugochukwu was assessed a technical foul as well.
Wade stated that the team needs to avoid such engagements to prepare for their next opponent. "We got too much on the line to be engaged in that sort of stuff," Wade said. The Tigers improved their shooting from the field, finishing 18 of 57 for Louisiana Tech, while LSU went 8 of 24 from three-point range.
The Bulldogs' offense struggled to find open looks, forcing them to take difficult perimeter shots. LSU's backup shooting guard drained four of ten three-point attempts, helping the team maintain its lead throughout the second half. The defensive scheme limited the Bulldogs to 50 points total.
LSU travels next to Spokane, Washington, to face No. 14 Gonzaga. The game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at Numerica Veterans Arena.
