LSU is back home after an eventful appearance in the Greenbrier Tip-Off last weekend in West Virginia.
The Tigers (5-1) suffered their loss of the season, falling to Pitt 74-63 in the first round last Friday, then overcame a 20-point deficit and endured three overtimes to defeat UCF 109-102 in the third-place game two days later.
They’ll face Northwestern State (3-4) on Friday night in Baton Rouge, La.
“We just found a way down 20 to just keep playing the next possession, and eventually started really executing well on the offensive end of the floor,” LSU coach Matt McMahon said, “and we were able to get enough rebounds to get out with the win.”
The Tigers trailed by 20 late in the first half, got within 40-25 at halftime, fell back 52-34 with less than 13 minutes remaining and made a 17-6 run at the end of the regulation to extend the game.
They shot 25 percent in the first half, 50 percent in the second half and 57.7 percent in the overtimes.
“Our team can respond to anything,” said forward Jalen Reed, who had 21 points and 13 rebounds in 48-plus minutes. “A lot of teams would have given up in a game like that, but we just continued to fight. We continued to communicate, in the game, in the huddle, on the bench.”
Northwestern State also responded well to adversity with its last performance. After recent two-point losses to Rice and UL Monroe, the host Demons defeated North Alabama 71-58 last Sunday.
“This team looked like a different team from the last game,” coach Rick Cabrera said. “We were so close (in the narrow losses), but so close doesn’t get you anything. We were able to take care of business (against North Alabama).”
Northwestern State held North Alabama to 37.3 percent field-goal shooting.
“That’s how you win games,” Cabrera said. “You defend, rebound, create some offense off your defense and execute in the halfcourt.”
Four Demons scored in double figures in that game. Jon Sanders II has appeared in all seven games for Northwestern State and puts up 12.9 points and 3.4 assists per game, while Addison Patterson adds 12.0 and 3.7.
Cam Carter averages 17.0 points per game to lead LSU.
