LSU Hoops vs Southern Miss - Mon 6:00pm - PMAC - SECN

Who:LSU Tigers (9-2) vs Southern Miss Golden Eagles (5-5)
When Monday, December 29th - 6:00 PM
Where: PMAC (13,215, 45th NCAA)
How:
***TV: SECN
***Radio: 98.1FM
***Stream: SECN+ via ESPN3.com

Tickets are available at LSUtix.net and fans that bring a canned food item for the Baton Rouge Food Bank on Monday to the upper concourse ticket windows (which open at 4:30 p.m.) will be able to purchase a ticket for $2 for the contest.

LSU returns to the hard court just a day before the football team takes the field in Nashville for the Music City Bowl. In this one, LSU takes on a struggling Southern Miss team. The Golden Eagles have not beat a top 150 team this season. They lack size down low which has also made rebounding a challenge for them. However their size could help LSU prepare for conference play on the perimeter.

Southern Miss plays 6'7" players down low, but they play 6'3" and 6'4" men at guard. Still, Southern Miss should not be much of a challenge. Southern Miss comes into the game shooting only 32.5% from three point range and 63.8% from the free throw line. They get a very large amount of shots blocked (#blockparty) and turn the ball over nearly as bad as anyone in college basketball. They will try and slow the pace of the game to a crawl.

LSU should be getting back starting PG Josh Gray after a two week hiatus due to injury. The Tigers will try and get out in transition and speed the game up. Defensively, LSU should be able to force USM into turnovers using their length and speed.

Projected LSU Lineup:

Josh Gray (6'1" 182 Jr) 31.6 MPG, 11.1 PPG, 4.7 APG, 44.4%3pt
Keith Hornsby (6'4" 210 Jr) 35.1 MPG, 13.5PPG, 4.9RPG, 38%3pt
Jarell Martin (6'10" 236 So) 34MPG, 16.9PPG, 9RPG, 77.6%FT
Jordan Mickey (6'8"235 So) 34MPG, 15.8PPG, 9.9RPG, 3.2BPG, 51.2%FG
Elbert Robinson (7'1" 275 Fr) 6.9MPG, 0.8PPG, 1.8RPG, 42.9%FG

Projected Southern Miss Lineup:

Rasham Suarez (6'3" 205 Jr) 28.6MPG, 7.6PPG, 3.5APG, 39.5%3PT
Chip Armelin (6'4" 198 Jr) 29.8MPG, 10.3PPG, 3.1RPG
Matt Bingaya (6'5" 200 Fr) 31.3MPG, 15.6PPG, 6.1RPG
Davon Hayes (6'7" 190 Fr) 15MPG, 4.7PPG, 1.4RPG
Jeremiah Eason (6'7" 250 Sr) 21.9MPG, 2.7PPG, 3.1RPG, 39.1%FT

Matt Bingaya is USM's top scorer. He will be important to stop. Suarez at PG likes to throw up three's so if he gets hot, he could be trouble, but the guards are the only ones LSU will really be worried about in this one. Down low, no post player will feel very welcomed into the paint with Jordan Mickey patrolling the lane. After having games of 7 and 6 blocks in the last two games, Mickey could be poised for a new career high in blocks in this one.

Prediction:
LSU 78, USM 51