LSU Men's Basketball Showcases Newfound Resilience in Win Over Alabama State

Tigers Overcome Early Deficit, Pull Away in Second Half

BATON ROUGE - The LSU men's basketball team showcased its newfound resilience on Wednesday night, overcoming an early deficit to pull away from Alabama State in the second half and secure a 93-79 victory at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

The Tigers, who entered the game with a 2-2 record, trailed by as many as nine points in the first half but battled back to take a 43-37 lead at the break. LSU then turned up the defensive intensity in the second half, holding Alabama State to just 31% shooting from the field while forcing 12 turnovers.

Kobe Brown led the way for LSU with 25 points and 10 rebounds, while Derek Fountain added 19 points and KJ Williams contributed 18 points and 8 rebounds. The Tigers also got a boost from their bench, with Eric Gaines scoring 13 points and Cam Hayes adding 11 points.

Improved Defense Keys Victory for LSU

LSU's defense was a major factor in the victory, particularly in the second half. The Tigers held Alabama State to just 3-of-13 shooting from three-point range and forced 8 turnovers in the final 20 minutes.

Head coach Matt McMahon praised his team's defensive effort after the game, saying, "We really locked in on defense in the second half. We made it difficult for them to get good looks and forced them into some tough shots."

Balanced Scoring Attack for LSU

LSU's offense was also clicking on all cylinders, with four players scoring in double figures. Brown was the catalyst for the Tigers, but Fountain, Williams, and Gaines all played significant roles in the victory.

McMahon noted the importance of having a balanced scoring attack, saying, "It's great to see our guys stepping up and making plays. When we have multiple players contributing, it makes us a lot more difficult to defend."

Looking Ahead

With the victory, LSU improves to 3-2 on the season. The Tigers will be back in action on Saturday night when they host Gardner-Webb at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Alabama State falls to 1-2 with the loss. The Hornets will return home to face Alabama A&M on Saturday.