Monday, November 14, 2011 have 20 and nine and out rebound a team the way we did, I think it’s LSU’s offensive calling card good for this basketball team,” throughout the contest. Johnson said. Junior transfer center JusDespite the team effort, it was tin Hamilton recorded 11 points the freshman trio that spurred the in his Tiger debut, showcasing a Tigers to a fresh start this season. smooth hook shot from outside Freshman John Isaac, a Leesthe paint and a sharp passing acu- ville, La., native, contributed men with four as13 points off the sists in the post. bench and showThe sophocased his defenmore backcourt sive prowess, haduo of Andre rassing Colonel Stringer and guards off the Ralston Turner bounce and igadded 12 points niting LSU with each off an array 11 second-half Johnny O’Bryant III of 3-pointers and points and three freshman forward free throws. assists. Senior for“All [the ward Storm Warren was LSU’s freshmen] reacted just fine,” utility weapon, cleaning up on Turner said. “John [Issac] gave the boards with seven rebounds us some great minutes, Anthony and hitting three key jump shots [Hickey] did a great job pushing from the mid-range to contribute the ball in the break and Johnny 12 points. [O’Bryant] started hot and made “Any time you have seven it tough inside for Nicholls.” guys in double figures and have While the Tigers’ scorassist-to-turnover ratio where you ing may have been significantly
NICHOLLS, from page 7
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‘I just tried to flow with the game as I got in.’
of riches back there,” said senior offensive guard T-Bob Hebert. “It was kind of getting pushed back seems like it’s one of their nights and I made a cut off him.” every Saturday, and whoever it is, Blue shredded the Hilltopper is going off.” defense for five first down runs, The strong play of the LSU two of which were rushes of more backfield opened up the Tigers’ than 20 yards. passing game. “It was just the opportuniJefferson’s eight completions ties I had,” Blue said. “[Running were for 10 or more yards, includbacks] coach Frank [Wilson] ing a first quarter 59-yard bomb called my number and I did what to junior wide receiver Rueben I do best — run the ball.” Randle which put the Tigers on Blue is the third leading rush- the board. er in a backfield “It gives us a that ranks No. lot of man-to-man 30 this season in coverage when rushing offense. they respect our He accounted running game,” for more than 40 Randle said. “The percent of LSU’s defense comes rushing yards in trying to stop Saturday and a our running game quarter of its total and it leaves us Alfred Blue offense, despite one-on-one with sophomore running back not playing in the the [defensive first half and bebacks].” ing taken out late in the game to The deep threat the receivgive freshman Terrence Magee a ers posed forced Western Kenfew carries. tucky to decide whether to focus Nine different Tigers record- on the run or the pass. Blue used ed a rush in the win. his speed when he found a gap in Sophomore running back and the line on his impressive 45-yard usual feature back Spencer Ware run. was noticeably limited in his carHebert also took some credit ries against Western Kentucky. for the run, claiming that even he Ware totaled just 39 yards on six could have scored on that play. carries, which is tied for his sec“I might have gotten hawked ond fewest attempts this season. down,” Hebert admits. “But I Sophomore running back don’t know, I’m faster than Blue.” Michael Ford was the most used back of the night, gaining 63 yards on 11 carries. “I think Blue and Ford got a Contact Michael Gegenheimer at little late game wear down yardmgegenhaimer@lsureveille.com age,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “They deserved it, though.” Freshman back Kenny Hilliard ran four times and scored on two 1-yard touchdown runs from the fullback position, despite gaining no net yardage on the day after taking a 3-yard loss in the third quarter. LSU’s offensive line has the challenge of blocking for so many different backs, all of which have their own unique styles. “We have an embarrassment
BLUE, from page 7
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‘I had one big run and I guess they saw I was hot and they kept feeding me the ball’
The Daily Reveille improved, the Colonels often carved up a soft LSU defense with 51 percent shooting on the game and eight first-half three pointers. “I was pleased with our defensive intensity, but as for our execution on that end, I can’t say I was [pleased],” Johnson said. “Defensively, we have a long ways to go.” Playing at noon as part of a doubleheader with the football team, the Tigers started slow, trailing Nicholls 16-12 through seven minutes of action. Four consecutive LSU threepointers later, the Tigers were off and running to a 23-8 blitz that led to a 51-40 half-time advantage. LSU never led by less than 10 the rest of the way, earning a victory in the season opener as it prepares to hit the road for four consecutive games away from the PMAC this week. Contact Chris Abshire at cabshrie@lsureveille.com
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BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille
LSU freshman guard John Isaac (32) moves past Nicholls defenders Saturday during the Tigers’ 96-74 victory against the Colonels in the PMAC.