Thomas, Watford help LSU beat Nicholls 86-80
BATON ROUGE, La. -- — Freshman Cameron Thomas had a season-high 29 points, Trendon Watford added 22 points, nine rebounds and six assists, and LSU beat Nicholls 86-80 on Saturday.
Darius Days had 15 points and eight rebounds for LSU (5-1).
Thomas hit a tiebreaking jumper to spark a 15-4 run that gave Tigers a 25-14 lead when his layup capped the spurt with 13:10 left in the first half and the Colonels trailed the rest of the way. Watford converted three-point plays 36 seconds apart and added a jumper in the run.
Damien Sears made 8 of 9 from the field and finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and two steals for Nicholls (2-4). Jeremiah Buford scored 14 points, including four 3-pointers, and Ty Gordon had 12 points.
The Colonels, who have lost four in a row, trimmed their deficit to three points on six different occasions but got no closer. Jalen Cook made two free throws to push LSU's lead to 10 points with 1:01 to play but Najee Garvin answered with a layup and, after a turnover by Cook, Buford hit a 3 to trim Nicholl's deficit to 85-80 with 42 seconds remaining. The Colonels went 0 for 2 from the field with a turnover thereon.
Nicholls, due to a COVID-19 protocols, played for the first time since its 73-50 loss at Saint Mary’s on Dec. 1.
LSU guard Javonte Smart, who is averaging 15.8 points on 63% shooting this season, did not play for unspecified reasons. Freshman Eric Gaines made his first start in Smart's place, finished with one point, two assists, a block and a steal in 15 minutes of action.
------
Game Information
- Referees:
- Pat Adams
- Josue Nieves
- R.B. Clyburn
2023-24 Southland Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
McNeese | 17-1 | - | 30-4 |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi | 14-4 | 3 | 21-12 |
Nicholls | 13-5 | 4 | 20-14 |
Lamar | 12-6 | 5 | 19-14 |
SE Louisiana | 10-8 | 7 | 15-17 |
Northwestern State | 7-11 | 10 | 9-23 |
Texas A&M-Commerce | 6-12 | 11 | 13-20 |
New Orleans | 4-14 | 13 | 10-23 |
Houston Christian | 4-14 | 13 | 6-23 |
Incarnate Word | 3-15 | 14 | 8-23 |
2023-24 Southeastern Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Tennessee | 14-4 | - | 27-9 |
Auburn | 13-5 | 1 | 27-8 |
South Carolina | 13-5 | 1 | 26-8 |
Kentucky | 13-5 | 1 | 23-10 |
Alabama | 13-5 | 1 | 25-12 |
Florida | 11-7 | 3 | 24-12 |
Texas A&M | 9-9 | 5 | 21-15 |
LSU | 9-9 | 5 | 17-16 |
Mississippi State | 8-10 | 6 | 21-14 |
Ole Miss | 7-11 | 7 | 20-12 |
Georgia | 6-12 | 8 | 20-17 |
Arkansas | 6-12 | 8 | 16-17 |
Vanderbilt | 4-14 | 10 | 9-23 |
Missouri | 0-18 | 14 | 8-24 |