LSU Loses Opener by a Bucket

LSU met their cross-town rivals Notre Dame yesterday at the Peapack-Gladstone Gymnasium.  The game could not have been closer.  Notre Dame led most of the game.  LSU came out strong in the fourth quarter, and surged to a five point lead.  Notre Dame was down, but not out.  They came back to take a 36-32 lead with less than a minute left.  LSU hit a late bucket to pull to 36-34.  Will "the Thrill" Howes fired up a long three-pointer at the buzzer to go for the win, but it bounced off of the rim.

Andrew Martin paced Notre Dame with 17 points.  Devon Levine added 10.

Will Howes led LSU with 20 points.  Walter Rivas chipped in 10 points.

But most impressive was the LSU defense.  All ten LSU players contributed to the effort.  Most impressive was Nick Liccardi.  In the second half, Nick Liccardi guarded the Notre Dame Center, Andrew Martin, who is nearly twice Nick's size.  Nick used his speed and his strength to keep Andrew from getting to the basket.  Great job Nick.