Even though the LSU tigers were out hit friday night it was the long ball that was LSU’s reason for success.  Leftfielder Raph Rhymes started things off with a 3-run homer in the first inning.  First baseman Mason Katz had a two-run homer of his own later on to put the tigers up 5-2 his 10th homer of the season.  The steady pitching of Aaron Nola (3-0)kept the Auburn tigers at bay for the 9-4 victory.  Nola finished with 6.2 innings pitched while giving up 2 runs and nine hits.

LSU moved to 20-2, 3-1 SEC while Auburn fell to 15-7, 0-4 SEC.  The tigers will go for the series victory today at 6:30 PM with junior right-hander Ryan Eades.

The tiger basketball team fell to #1 seed Florida in the SEC tournament Friday but was hopeful in achieving an NIT bid.  Unfortunately they were left out of the tournament field which was announced Sunday evening.

Shavon Coleman was on fire in the tigers victory over the bulldogs Thursday as he scored 14 of his 24 points in the second half to lead LSU to the victory.  LSU advanced to the quarterfinal round of the SEC tournament where it will  play Florida Friday at 12:00.  The tigers sprinted to a 23-point lead in the first half but allowed Georgia to make things interesting in the second.   In the end, LSU held off the bulldogs to secure a 5-point win.

After the tigers 81-67 loss to Ole Miss on Saturday the tigers slip to the tournaments ninth seed and will face the eighth seed Georgia Thursday in Nashville.  Georgia is coming off a loss Saturday as well 61-58 at Alabama.  The tigers finished the regular season at 18-11, 9-9 SEC while Georgia finished with a regular season record of 15-16, 9-9 SEC.  LSU is hoping for an NIT bid.  A few wins in the SEC tournament would help the tigers secure that.  The tigers lost in Athens January 19th 67-58 in the earlier meeting between the two teams.

Georgia is led by “SEC Player of he Year” sophomore guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope with 18 points per game, 6.9 rebounds per game, and 1.8 assists per game.  Sophomore forward Namanja Djuristic scores 8 points a game, has 4 rebounds a game, and 1.5 assists per game.  Junior forward Donte Williams has 5.3 points per game and 4.9 rebounds per game.  Freshman guard Charles Mann has 6.5 points per game, 3 rebounds per game, and 2.8 assists per game.  Senior guard Vincent Williams scores 5.1 points per game, has 1.5 rebounds per game, and has 2.2 assists per game.

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The tigers host the rebels Saturday in a game of teams headed in opposite directions.  The tigers are 6-3 in their last 11 conference games while Ole Miss is 5-6.  The rebels began the conference season 6-0 but have cooled off quite a bit and have gone 5-6 in their last 11 games.  The tigers come in at 18-10, 9-8 SEC and look to finish above .500 in conferencce with a win.  Ole Miss is 22-8, 11-6 SEC.

The tigers would like to finish with a win which would put them at 10-8 in conference and over .500 which before the season began was considered slim to none.

The rebels are led by Junior guard Marshall Henderson who averages 19.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists.  Senior forward Murphy Holloway has 14.6 points per game, 9.6 rebounds per game, and 1.3 assists per game.  Senior forward Reginald Buckner has 9.4 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per game.  Sophomore guard Jarvis Summers has 9 points per game, 1.7 rebounds per game, and 3.8 assists.