LSU Basketball Forces 23 Turnovers in 90-50 Victory Over Louisiana Tech
The Tigers' aggressive defense limited the Bulldogs to 18 made field goals and secured a third consecutive win by 40 or more points.
By Alexei Brooks ·
LSU basketball players found their rhythm through defensive pressure on Monday, defeating Louisiana Tech 90-50 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The victory extends the Tigers' all-time series lead to 14-1 and marks the first time in program history that they have won three consecutive games by margins of 40 points or more.
The defensive strategy centered on disrupting the opponent's offense. LSU forced 23 turnovers throughout the game and converted 38 points from those mistakes. This approach limited Louisiana Tech to just 18 made field goals in 57 attempts. The Bulldogs did not make their second field goal until the 12:21 mark of the second half, indicating the early strangulation of their offensive flow.
Skyy Clark and Donovan Dent each recorded five steals. Clark also made his first three-pointer of the season after missing his previous 14 attempts. He finished with nine points. Dent contributed 12 points and five assists. Coach Will Wade noted that Clark's defensive efforts compensate for his current shooting struggles, stating that everything Clark does helps the team win.
The Tigers maintained ball security, committing only three turnovers in the first half. This broke a streak where point guard Donovan Dent had recorded 20 assists with zero turnovers prior to the game. Saliou Niang contributed to the early pressure, denying passing lanes and securing the first steal of the game from Ethan Blackmon.
Mo Dioubate added 15 points and a fast-break assist before fouling out. The Kentucky transfer engaged in a physical exchange with Blackmon, resulting in technical fouls for both players and for Divine Ugochukwu. Wade described the incident as foolishness, emphasizing the need to de-escalate conflicts before the upcoming game.
Michael Ruzic continued a strong scoring run with 17 points, finishing a layup after a steal by Dioubate. The team improved its three-point shooting to 8 of 24, a better performance than their 12 of 50 average entering the game. The next contest is scheduled for Saturday against No. 14 Gonzaga at 2:30 p.m. in Spokane, Washington.
