How LSU got a tough 85-75 win over Florida State on Tuesday

LSU got another high-major win on Tuesday night in the PMAC, beating Florida State 85-75 and improving to 7-1 on the season.

LSU trailed at halftime for the fourth straight home game and wasted no time in the second half, starting with an 8-0 run to take a 40-35 lead and never gave the lead back. It was a complete win, even with forward Jalen Reed leaving the game in the first minutes of the contest.

Here’s how the Tigers got the win and what it means.

1. The guards stepped up the scoring 

Cam Carter had 26 points, Jordan Sears had 21, and Vyctorious Miller had 15 and although they weren’t extremely efficient, besides Carter, they just made winning plays. Every bucket in the second half felt huge. Miller had two tough off the bounce threes that helped LSU pull away in the second half. Sears was also huge on some aggressive takes to the rim. Then Cam put it away with his performance.

It was an awesome showing for this backcourt in a game where I thought they were going to be tested and potentially struggle tonight and they weren’t perfect, but those are the type of games they are going to have to have every game in the SEC. It’s not going to come easy for LSU this year, but the experience and toughness of its guards is going to keep this team in most games.

2. The frontcourt did its job

Jalen Reed left the game early in the first half and there was real concern about where LSU would go from there. Then, No. 10 Daimion Collins got up and checked into the game for the first time since getting injured in West Virginia. I thought he looked timid initially, but once he settled in he was fantastic.

The combination of Collins and Corey Chest at the 4-5 is elite defensively and had some big time put backs. Their aggression level and fire is contagious and I think it’s tough for teams to play against. They are the heart of LSU’s defensive success and Collins ended the game with three blocks to reflect that. 

Florida State ended the game 9-of-29 on shots at the rim in this game. That should tell you everything you need to know about the Tigers’ frontcourt play tonight.

• Jalen Reed update: Matt McMahon says Reed has a sprained knee and he will be evaluated tomorrow and he will have a further update after the testing is complete.

3. The Tigers took care of the ball

A major concern coming into the game was Florida State’s defensive pressure as the Seminoles ranked No. 3 in the country in turnover percentage defense and LSU had struggled in that area. Tonight, LSU was excellent, though, ending the game with just 11 turnovers and very few really bad ones. The Seminoles had just 12 points off turnovers on the night and the halfcourt offense is just not good enough to hurt a high-level LSU defense. 

When LSU had a mismatch, they attacked it well, generating good looks and didn’t hesitate to take what the defense gave them. It was an awesome offensive showing against what was supposed to be a menacing Florida State defense.

4. Matt McMahon continues to find a way

Last year, without Jalen Cook, Daimion Collins, and Carlos Stewart McMahon got this program to 9-9 in conference play in his second season. Now, at the start of year three, he loses his starting wing in Tyrell Ward, loses his star big man in the first two minutes of this game against the Seminoles and just finds ways to win.

He has outcoached Jerome Tang, Leonard Hamilton, and Johnny Dawkins already this year and improves to 7-1 on the season. LSU is now No. 46 in Kenpom and has one more resume opportunity against SMU on Dec. 14 in Frisco, Texas. Get a win there and the Tigers are likely 12-1 in non-conference play and firmly a top 40 team entering conference play.

The SEC is brutal and LSU is not as talented as a lot of the teams in the conference, but McMahon continuously makes the right adjustments and pulls the right strings to bring out the best in his team.