LSU has hit its first speed bump due to a better class of competition, while SMU seems to be making itself at home facing Southeastern Conference teams.
The Mustangs will look to leverage that familiarity into a win in hostile territory and continue the Tigers’ misery Saturday night at the Compete 4 Cause Classic at New Orleans.
SMU (9-1) has faced three straight SEC teams, going 2-1 in those matchups. The Mustangs followed a split with Mississippi State (an 87-81 overtime win) and Vanderbilt (an 88-69 loss) with a 93-80 OT win over Texas A&M on Sunday.
In that victory, the Mustangs controlled the extra session, outscoring the Aggies 16-3 late. Jaron Pierre Jr. paced the winners with 35 points on 13-of-21 shooting from the field.
That performance boosted his scoring average to 19.5 points per game, second on the team behind Boopie Miller’s 20.6.
“(Pierre) was spectacular on offense with his shot making, shot creation, and that’s what we needed,” SMU coach Andy Enfield said. “We lost three double-figure scorers off of last year’s team, and we knew we needed some scoring, and he provides that.”
LSU (8-1) had feasted on overmatched opponents in remaining undefeated before then-No. 19 Texas Tech blasted the Tigers 82-58 on Sunday, handing them their first loss.
Season scoring leaders Mike Nwoko (16.0 ppg) and Dedan Thomas Jr. (15.2) were held to a combined 9-of-22 shooting, and the Tigers were cold from the field (33%) in the loss.
SMU probably doesn’t fall into the same category as those Red Raiders, an annual NCAA Tournament contender, but the Mustangs, No. 31 in the NET rankings, still represent a step up in competition for LSU.
The Tigers hope Saturday’s game goes better than last Sunday’s did.
“There’s disappointment, but our players need to know that we have a good team,” LSU coach Matt McMahon said. “I thought we looked a little fatigued, so we’ve got to evaluate some things there.”
