6:45 LRN Sportscast January 20

Tough loss for the 13th ranked LSU men’s basketball team as they lost their fifth straight game to Alabama falling to the Crimson Tide 70-67 at Coleman Coliseum last night. LSU trailed by 13 points with about eight minutes left, but the Tigers put together a rally after a technical foul was called on coach Will Wade, who complained that Alabama was not called for goaltending on a layup by Eric Gaines
cut 30 (20) “…taking it”
The Tigers lost to Alabama despite 26 points and ten rebounds from Tari Eason. Xavier Pinson missed his third straight game with a sprained knee and Darius Days only played 12 minutes after rolling his ankle in the first half. LSU is at 24th ranked Tennessee on Saturday.

ULM basketball hosts first-place Troy in a Sunbelt Conference showdown tonight. The Warhawks snapped a two-game losing streak with a big win at UT-Arlington last Saturday, with only seven players on the roster due to COVID-19. Coach Keith Richard says the victory couldn’t have come at a better time…
Cut 16 (07) “…homestand.”
In other action tonight, the Ragin Cajuns host South Alabama, Northwestern State is at Nicholls, S-L-U is at UNO, McNeese travels to Corpus Christi.

LSU sits eighth in the DI Baseball Preseason Top 25. One of the major reasons for their lofty early ranking is the expectation that the Tigers will be one of the best offensive teams in the nation. Aaron Fitt, co-editor of the website believes that The Box will be rocking this season.
Cut 19 (06)_“…be explosive.”
We are about a month away from the season opener against Maine on February 19th.

4:45 LRN Sportscast January 19

The 13th-ranked LSU Tigers try to get back on the winning side of things tonight as they visit the Alabama Crimson Tide. LSU is off to a 3-2 start in SEC play after beginning the season with 12 straight victories. Coach Will Wade says injuries and fatigue are something the Tigers have to overcome.

Cut 18 (13) “…we need to.”

Guard Xavier Pinson, who has missed the last two games with a knee injury, is a game-time decision for tonight’s contest with the Tide. LSU has dropped four in a row to Alabama.

Former LSU football coach Ed Orgeron is one of 14 people dropped from a lawsuit that accuses the University of ignoring gender discrimination and sexual misconduct claims.

10 current and former LSU students filed the lawsuit in April of last year. After initially naming 19 defendants, that list has been narrowed down to five.

The defendants are seeking monetary damages as well as enforcement of Title IX guidelines meant to prevent gender discrimination.

Former Louisiana Tech superstar and current Pelicans assistant Teresa Weatherspoon has pulled her name from consideration for the head coaching job with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury.

She has spent the past three seasons with the Pelicans. Shams Charania of The Athletic says Weatherspoon is a serious candidate for an NBA head coaching job in the near future.

Basketball pioneer Luisa Harris passed away at the age of 66 yesterday.

Harris was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992, the first Black woman to earn that honor.

After becoming a three-time All-American and national champion at Delta State, she was drafted by the New Orleans Jazz in the seventh round of the 1977 NBA draft.

She remains the only female player ever drafted to the NBA.

Northwestern State has found its next AD. Kevin Bostian, who comes from the University of North Carolina Greensboro, will be formally introduced Thursday morning.

Bostian will take over for Greg Burke, who will remain with the university in a development role. Burke led the NSU athletic department for more than 25 years.

 

6:45 LRN Sportscast January 19

The LSU football program continues to replenish its roster through the transfer portal. Missouri defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo and East Tennessee State offensive lineman Tre’Mond Shorts have committed to LSU. Wingo had 27 tackles and a sack as a freshman at Missouri and Shorts is a two-time FCS All-American. Also, LSU linebacker Micah Baskerville and junior safety Jay Ward announced they are returning to LSU.

In high school football coaching news…Stanley Smith has resigned as head football coach at Ferriday. Smith led the Trojans to a state championship in 2019 and won 47 games at his alma mater. He was hired in 2017.

Hank Tierney is returning to Archbishop Shaw. Tierney led Ponchatoula to the Class 5A championship game last season. Tierney led Shaw to a championship in 1987 and they are moving down to Class 4A next season.

LSU is ranked eighth in the D-1-baseball-dot-com poll.

The 13th ranked LSU men’s basketball team looks to get back to its winning ways as they visit Alabama tonight. The Tigers are coming off a 65-58 home loss to Arkansas. LSU’s leading scorer Tari Eason has been quiet in the last few games. Coach Will Wade says it’s time for that to change…
cut 17 (22) “…down there”
Alabama has also been struggling. They’ve lost three in a row. Tip off is at 6:00.

Last night in the SEC, Arkansas slammed South Carolina 75-59, Missouri blew out Ole Miss 78-53 and Tennessee topped Vanderbilt 68-60. LSU is at Tennessee this Saturday.

4:45 LRN Sportscast January 18

Louisiana Tech scored a big win on the recruiting trail after four-star running back De’Anthony Gatson gave his verbal commitment to the Bulldogs. Gatson is rated as the 17th-best runner in the country after compiling more than fifty-six hundred yards and 83 TDs during his high school career.

Meanwhile, LSU continues to replenish its ranks. The Tigers have announced that Missouri defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo and East Tennessee State offensive lineman Tre’Mond Shorts will be joining the program, bringing the number of incoming transfers to eleven.

Shorts has five years of experience and was one of the most coveted players available in the portal. Wingo, a former three-star recruit, had 27 tackles and a sack as a freshman at Mizzou.

On the diamond, LSU enters the DI Baseball preseason top-25 ranked eighth in the nation. The Tigers are one of six SEC teams in the top ten. LSU opens its first season under new coach Jay Johnson on February 18 at Alex Box Stadium.

———

The LSU men’s hoops squad has lost its offensive rhythm as of late, as the Tigers have averaged just 61 points over their last two games. Coach Will Wade says his team has to get back to playing with purpose when they have the ball.

Cut 16 (20) …”over again.”

The thirteenth-ranked Tigers visit Bama tomorrow.

The LSU women’s basketball team has moved up to eleventh in the latest AP rankings after wins over Missouri and Vanderbilt. This is the highest they’ve been ranked since the Tigers were number five on December 20, 2009. With 17 wins, the Tigers have almost doubled their win total from a season ago.

And the NFL has completed the opening round of the playoffs after the Rams defeated the Cardinals 34-11 Monday night.

Former LSU standout Odell Beckham Jr had four catches for 54 yards and a touchdown. He also completed a 40-yard pass in the win.

11:40 LRN Sportscast January 18

LSU head football coach Brian Kelly continues to fill out his staff with big names with local ties. Kelly announced the hiring of Georgia assistant and New Orleans native Cortez Hankton as the team’s wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator. Hankton served in the same role for the Bulldogs for the past three seasons. Tiger Rag Editor Adam Hunsucker says Kelly’s staff is ready to compete with any in the SEC.

Cut 20 (10) “…national title.”

Tigers’ wide-out Jaray Jenkins will be working with Hankton next season, as he announced he will be returning to LSU for a fifth year. Over the past two campaigns, Jenkins has 57 catches for 899 yards and eight touchdowns.

On the defensive side of the ball, safety Jay Ward will also be back in the purple and gold, according to a report from 247sports. His return is a huge boost for the Tigers’ secondary. Ward collected 71 tackles, two interceptions, and six pass breakups last season.

———

Moving to baseball, LSU enters the DI Baseball preseason top-25 ranked eighth in the nation. The Tigers are one of six SEC teams in the top ten. LSU opens its first season under new coach Jay Johnson on February 18 against Maine at Alex Box Stadium.

Kim Mulkey is another LSU coach making waves. The women’s basketball team has moved up to eleventh in the latest AP rankings after wins over Missouri and Vanderbilt. This is the highest LSU has been ranked since the Tigers were number five on December 20, 2009.

And the Pelicans dropped their second straight game on their current three-game road trip, falling to the Boston Celtics, 104-92.

The Pels led by as many as 18 points before their second-half collapse. Coach Willie Green said that there are just some games like this, but he expects his team to bounce back.

Cut 17 (08) “…their physicality.”

New Orleans is back on the court Thursday when they face the New York Knicks.

6:45 LRN Sportscast January 18

LSU football coach Brian Kelly has finalized his on-field coaching staff with the hiring of Georgia wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator Cortez Hankton. Hankton is another Louisiana native on Kelly’s staff as he’s from New Orleans. Tiger Rag Editor Adam Hunsucker says that the makeup of Kelly’s staff should help him make the adjustment to the SEC.
Cut 18 (13) “ …familiar with.”
In other LSU football news…wide receiver Jaray Jenkins has announced he’s returning for a fifth season and Notre Dame starting punter Jay Bramblett announced he’s transferring to LSU.

Louisiana Tech has received a verbal commitment from four-star running back De’Anthony Gatson. Rivals-dot-com ranks Gatson as the 17th best running back in the country after rushing for over 56-hundred yards and 83 touchdowns during his career at Newton High School in Newton, Texas.

The Pelicans dropped their second straight ballgame yesterday afternoon, a 104-92 loss to the Celtics. coach Willie Green says that his team struggled to meet Boston’s intensity on defense.
Cut 16 (14) “…get into stuff.”
Brandon Ingram has been playing well for the Pelicans lately, but yesterday he was held to 15 points on six of 19 shooting.

LSU men’s basketball fell one spot to 13 in the A-P Top 25 poll. The Tigers are at unranked Alabama on Wednesday. Coach Will Wade says starting point guard Xavier Pinson will be a game-time decision with a sprained knee.

The LSU Lady Tigers moved up one spot to number 11 in the AP poll. The Lady Tigers are 17 and 2 and do not play again until Sunday when they visit the Florida Gators.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

In the NFL playoffs yesterday, Kansas City and Tampa Bay advanced, while Dallas’s season ended with a home loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Former Haughton star and Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott threw for 254 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Big game for former Ragin Cajun running back Elijah Mithcell as he had 96 yards rushing and one touchdown to help San Francisco advance to play at Green Bay.

Joe Burrow and the Bengals will play Tennessee this Saturday. The Bengals won their first playoff game in 31 years as Cincinnati held off the Raiders 26-19 on Saturday. Burrow threw two touchdown passes in the win…
Cut 17 (13) “ .next one”
One more NFC playoff game tonight. the Rams take on the Cardinals.
The LSU men’s basketball team dropped one spot today to number 13 in the AP Top 25 poll after suffering an upset loss to unranked Arkansas on Saturday. The Razorbacks went on a 17-2 run to finish the game and defeated the 12th ranked Tigers 65-58. LSU Coach Will Wade says the Hogs made the plays down the stretch and they didn’t…
Cut 18 (08) “ ..needed to be”
Eric Gaines had 14 points to lead LSU, while Tari Eason and Alex Fudge each had 13 points. It was the second straight game LSU played without starting point guard Xavier Pinson, who has a sprained knee. Wade hopes Pinson will be back this week. The Tigers are at Alabama on Wednesday and Tennessee on Saturday.

Louisiana Tech improved to 6-0 in Conference USA with a 76062 win over Southern Miss to finish a two-game sweep of the Golden Eagles in regular season play. Kenneth Lofton Junior had 23 points to lead the way.

6:45 LRN Sportscast January 17

In the NFL playoffs yesterday, Kansas City and Tampa Bay advanced, while Dallas’s season ended with a home loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Former Haughton star and Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott threw for 254 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Big game for former Ragin Cajun running back Elijah Mithcell as he had 96 yards rushing and one touchdown to help San Francisco advance to play at Green Bay.

The NFL playoffs continue tonight with one more wild card game as the Rams host the Cardinals. Former LSU Tiger and L-A receiver Odell Beckham Junior will be playing in his second playoff game and his first since the 2016 season with the Giants…
Cut 16 (16) “…good feeling”
The winner of the Rams-49ers game will play at Tampa Bay in the divisional round.

The Louisiana Tech men’s basketball team played well down the stretch yesterday and defeated Southern Miss 76 to 62 to complete a regular-season series sweep of the Golden Eagles. Kenneth Jofton Junior led the way with 23 points and Tech held U-S M to 33-percent shooting.

12th ranked LSU didn’t play well down the stretch on Saturday and the Tigers were upset by Arkansas 65-58. The loss ended LSU’s three-game winning streak. Coach Will Wade says they couldn’t overcome their weaknesses…
cut 20 (19) “….you deserve”

A tough trip to Texas for U-L Lafayette as they lost to U-T Arlington and Texas State, while U-L-M upset U-T Arlington 62-55 on Saturday.

4:45 LRN Sportscast January 14

The 12th ranked LSU men’s basketball team looks to stay near the top of the Southeastern Conference standings when they host Arkansas at 1 PM on Saturday at the PMAC. The Tigers are 3-and-1 in league play, while Auburn and Texas A-and-M are the only two teams still undefeated against conference opponents. Coach Will Wade sees his team staying near the top of the SEC standings…
cut 19 (10) “….getting started”
Arkansas comes into tomorrow’s game with a one and three record. But the Razorbacks are coming off a win as they dribbled past Missouri 87-43 on Wednesday night.

La Tech blew out Southern Miss on Thursday 80-57. The Bulldogs are 5-and-0 in Conference USA and they’ll face the Golden Eagles on Sunday.

The Ragin Cajuns suffered their first Sun Belt loss on Thursday as they lost by ten to UT Arlington. U-L Lafayette is at Texas State on Saturday.

There is a nation’s best 23 former LSU Tigers on active NFL rosters for this Super Wild Card weekend. Tampa Bay features the most former Tigers with five players on its roster, led by linebacker Devin White and running back Leonard Fournette who will be a game-time decision on Sunday when the Buccaneers host the Eagles. Fournette is coming back from a hamstring injury.

The Bengals and Chiefs have three LSU players on their active rosters. Cincinnati is led by Heisman Trophy quarterback Joe Burrow and receiver Ja’Marr Chase. Chase said on draft night he would break NFL records and ended up setting a rookie record for most receiving yards…
cut 18 (11) “…playoff records”
The Bengals host the Raiders tomorrow at 3:30.

The only team in the NFL that does not have a former LSU Tiger on its active roster is the Green Bay Packers

11:40 LRN Sportscast January 14

Louisiana Tech improved to 5-0 in Conference USA play last night with an 80-57 win over rival Southern Miss. The Bulldogs led by seven points at halftime, but Coach Eric Konkol expressed what he wanted to see in the second half…
cut 20 (18) “…to see”
Tech also hit eleven three-pointers, Keaston Willis had four of them and had 21 points. The Bulldogs play Southern Miss again on Sunday in Hattiesburg.

The Ragin Cajuns suffered their first Sun Belt loss as they were defeated by U-T Arlington 83-73, despite 20 points by Kobe Julien. And ULM lost to South Alabama 69-54.

The Pelicans are just a .5 game out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference after beating the Clippers 113 to 89 last night. Brandon Ingram had 24 points. New Orleans is at Brooklyn on Saturday.

With the Saints not in the NFL playoffs, much of the rooting interest in Louisiana will be for Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. 1991 was the last time the Bengals won a playoff game, but Burrow is not bothered by it…
Cut 19 (19)_“…try to do”
The Bengals host the Raiders on Saturday afternoon.

LSU football has received commitments from two more players in the transfer portal. Penn State running back Noah Cain is a Baton Rouge native and returning to Louisiana after leading the Nittany Lions in rushing touchdowns last season. Arkansas defensive back Gregory Brooks also says he’s coming to LSU.