LSU was knocked out of the tie for first place in Southeastern Conference standings last night after falling to Alabama 76-69 at the PMAC. Ben Simmons had 20 points and 10 rebounds for LSU, but he also turned the ball over three times and missed nine of 19 free throws. The Tigers visit Tennessee on Saturday.

Tulane was trounced by Houston last night 83-69. Tonight UL-Lafayette travels to face UT Arlington. ULM is at Texas State and Tech goes to UT-San Antonio.

Sources say the Saints have freed up some cap space by converting defensive end Cam Jordan’s $6 million dollar roster bonus into a signing bonus. New Orleans has now trimmed about $14 million dollars off its salary cap number heading into the 2016 season.

LSU Football coach Les Miles introduced two new additions to his coaching staff Wednesday. Jabbar Juluke is the new Tigers running backs coach while Dameyune Craig will be in charge of wide receivers…:
Cut 17 (12) “special things”
Juluke is a former St. Aug Purple Knight, state championship Karr head coach, Southern Jaguar and was the running backs coach at Louisiana Tech for three years. Craig left the wide receiver coaching job at Auburn to come work the same position for Miles.

Retiring Voice of the Tigers Jim Hawthorne has been named a recipient of the 2016 Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. Longtime Alexandria sportswriter Bob Tompkins is receiving the same honor. Both men will be enshrined in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.