Belmont may not be a brand name, but the Bruins have won at least 26 games the last three seasons. They didn’t look like it Monday night in the PMAC.
LSU may have had its most dominate performance of the young season.
The Tigers have held their first five opponents to under 60 points. The last time LSU men’s basketball team did that was 1946-47.
I’m told they did not have a shot clock or three-point line in 1946.
This was a Belmont team that was averaging 88 points per game. Monday night, they scored 53.
What may be even more impressive is that LSU’s leading scorer, Darius Days, had nine points. In fact, Days was one of only three main contributors for the Tigers to not score in double digits.
Sophomore forward Tari Eason continues to be a surprise on this year’s team as he led LSU with 17 points and seven rebounds on the night.
It was a sloppy start for LSU on offense and defense. Belmont started off with 7-0 lead before the Tigers went on a 18-2 run.
LSU went up 36-23 in what was an entertaining first half defined by a 25-4 run for the Tigers.
It was led by fast break scoring and defense.
LSU had 15 steals and 7 blocked shots while holding Belmont to 32 percent from the field.
The last time LSU started the season 5-0, they won the SEC regular season and went to the Sweet Sixteen in 2019.
Based on what we’ve seen so far this season, this team looks like it can attain the same accomplishment in 2022.