Tigers Torch Taraleton in opener

BATON ROUGE, LA — Well, that’s one way to start a season. The LSU men’s basketball team came out absolutely on fire Wednesday night, roasting Tarleton State 96–60 at the PMAC. The Tigers couldn’t miss, the crowd was loud, and Matt McMahon celebrated his 200th career win in style.

🔥 Couldn’t Miss If They Tried

Seriously — LSU shot 70.2% from the field. That’s not a typo. It’s the third-best shooting night in program history, and it looked even better in real time. The Tigers hit 76% in the first half alone and basically had Tarleton chasing shadows.

Six players hit double figures, which tells you everything about how balanced this team looked:

• Max Mackinnon was lights out. The Portland transfer dropped 19 points on 6-of-7 shooting and went 4-of-5 from three. He also threw in five assists just for fun.

• Dedan Thomas Jr. — the new point guard from UNLV — looked completely in control. Smooth, calm, and efficient with 16 points and eight assists.

• Marquel Sutton added 13 points, while big men Mike Nwoko (11 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks) and Jalen Reed (11 and 6) handled business in the paint.

• Robert Miller III joined the double-digit club with 10 points and six boards.

This wasn’t just a hot shooting night — it was a statement that this new-look LSU roster might have something special brewing.

🛡️ Team Ball and Tough D

On top of the offensive fireworks, LSU shared the ball like a group that’s been playing together for years. The Tigers finished with 21 assists on 33 made shots — that’s how you know the chemistry’s clicking early.

Defensively, they dominated the glass with a 39–21 rebounding edge, and that pretty much killed any hope of a Tarleton comeback.

Tarleton’s Kade Douglas tried to keep things respectable with 19 points off the bench (and four threes), while Freddy Hicks added 12. But the Texans couldn’t buy a bucket overall, shooting just 32.3% from the floor.

🚀 Early Signs Are Promising

It’s only Game 1, but man — this was exactly what LSU fans wanted to see. The ball movement, the energy, the confidence — all there. McMahon’s crew looked hungry and connected.

If this is the kind of rhythm they can sustain, the Tigers are going to be a real problem in the SEC.

Next up: another chance to keep the hot streak rolling and prove this wasn’t just an opening-night fluke.