Dec. 2, 2008

Box Score

Baton Rouge, LA - Marcus Thornton scored 24 points and LSU outrebounded Cal State Fullerton 56-27 Tuesday night in the Tigers' 84-63 non-conference men's basketball victory in Baton Rouge.

LSU improved to 6-0 with its sixth home victory while the Titans fell to 3-5 in their inaugural visit to a Southeastern Conference arena.

Josh Akognon led the Titans with 23 points on 8 of 20 shooting. Jacques Streeter had 9 points and 4 assists and Papa Guisse had 8 rebounds.

LSU made 21 of 26 free throws to Fullerton's 7 of 12 at the line. Fullerton committed only 11 turnovers while LSU lost the ball 19 times.

The Titans hung with the Tigers for most of the first half. Akognon's 3-pointer gave them their last lead at 9-8 but they stayed within one or two possessions until the closing minutes when turnovers, a problem they had conquered for most of the half, started hurting them. Point guard Bo Spencer hit a pair of 3-pointers to close out the LSU scoring for a 42-31 halftime lead.

LSU outrebounded Fullerton before intermission, 29-13, and had 15 offensive boards . Fullerton committed only 6 turnovers to 9 by the Tigers.

Fullerton outscored LSU 7-2 to open the second half to make it a 6-point game but the Tigers scored the next 7 points to make it 51-38 and Fullerton never serioiusly threatened again.

"We got annihilated on the boards," said Fullerton Coach Bob Burton. "You look at the rebounding and the free-throw stats and that's the whole story.

"Our offense was awful, but a lot of that was caused by LSU's defense. They did a great job. If they stay with Coach (Trent) Johnson's program, they are going to be really good this season."

After seven games away from home, the Titans return to Titan Gym Saturday night to host Central Michigan in a rematch of a Fullerton loss last season in Mt. Pleasant.

More details on the LSU game to come.