The top ranked LSU baseball team improved to 8-0 on the season with an easy 17-4 win over the Southern Jaguars. Senior right fielder Antoine Duplantis continued his early season tear by going 4-for-5 with 5 runs batted in. But not all of the news is good for the Purple and Gold. Coach Paul Mainieri say he’s 98-percent sure Gavin Dugas will need surgery to repair a torn ligament in his thumb. Dugas could miss the next two months.

Also last night, ninth ranked Mississippi State blanked Southeastern Louisiana 12-0, ending the Lions six-game winning streak in the series history between the two teams.

The Pelicans began their four-game Mardi Gras road trip with a 125-119 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Anthony Davis had 22 points in 21 minutes. Julius Randle had 35 points against his old team. But the Lakers prevailed as LeBron James had 33 points and 10 assists.

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Sam Houston State won an outright Southland Conference regular season championship in New Orleans last night as the Bearkats defeated the Privateers 71-60. U-N-O falls to third place in the league standings.

Northwestern State is one of several teams fighting to get in the Southland Tournament. The Demons helped their chances with a 68-60 win over U-I-W. Ishmael Lane led the way with 20 points.
McNeese kept their Southland Conference Tournament hopes alive with an 84-75 victory over Nicholls in Thibodaux. Sha’Markus Kennedy had 23 of his 27 points in the second half. Both the Cowboys and Colonels are 5-and-10 in league play.

Tennessee topped Ole Miss 73 to 71 as the Volunteers improved to 13-2 in the SEC. Tennessee, Kentucky and LSU are tied for first place with three conference games left. The Vols host the Wildcats on Saturday, while the Tigers are at Alabama.

In action tonight, the Cajuns host Coastal Carolina, Appalachian STate is at ULM and Louisiana Tech takes on Marshall.