The New Orleans Pelicans are home tonight to host the Los Angeles Lakers after back-to-back road victories over the Brooklyn Nets and the Detroit Pistons. The Pels are in eighth place in the Western Conference, a half-game ahead of the Clippers for the final playoff spot. New Orleans is also a half game back of the Nuggets for sixth placet.

The top teams in the Southland Conference battle each other tonight. First place Nicholls hosts second place Sam Houston State. The Colonels have a half game lead over the Bearkats and they are looking for their first win over Sam Houston since 2013.

UNO and Southeastern Louisiana are tied with the Bearkats for second place and they face off tonight in Hammond. The Lions have won three in a row, while the Privateers have won five of their last six.

Also tonight, Northwestern State hosts Houston Baptist, McNeese visits Central Arkansas and Tulane hosts East Carolina.

LSU fell to 5-8 in the SEC with an 80-65 loss to Alabama last night. The Crimson Tide shot 55-percent and knocked down 10 three-pointers. They also had some highlight reel dunks. At one point, Bama had a 25 point lead. The Tigers host Missouri on Saturday. The Tigers won their fifth straight by beating Texas A-and-M 62-58 last night.

There were reports former Saints quarterback Doug Nussmeier would be named as an offensive analyst on Ed Orgeron’s staff at LSU. But the ex-offensive coordinator at Alabama, Michigan and Florida has found another job. He’ll reportedly serve as tight ends coach for the Dallas Cowboys.

WAFB reports Coach O has purchased a home at the University Club in Baton Rouge. Orgeron’s current home is in the Mandeville-area.

Coach O is interested in signing Houston quarterback Grant Gunnell and the four-star prospect has re-opened his recruitment. Gunnell has decommitted from Texas A-and-M, because of the coaching change and other factors.

The LSU hoops team fell to 5-8 in the SEC last night as the Tigers lost to Alabama 80-65. Daryl Edwards scored a career-high 21 points for the Bayou Bengals, but his teammates struggled against a surging Crimson Tide team that improved to 8-5 in SEC play.

Big night in the Southland Conference, Nicholls leads the league and they host Sam Houston State who is tied for second with Southeastern Louisiana and UNO. The Colonels have won eight of their last nine and they are 10-3 at home. The Bearkats are the best defensive team in the league, allowing 67 points a game.

Meanwhile, S-L-U and the Privateers will face each other in Hammond. These two teams split their season series last year. UNO beat the Lions in Hammond last season 60-52.

Also tonight…Northwestern State hosts Houston Batptist, while Tulane faces East Carolina. The Green Wave are trying to end a three-game losing streak. While the Demons will start former football player Cameron Lazare.

The Pelicans hope they can extend their winning streak to three when they host the Los Angeles Lakers tonight. It’s the final game before the All-Star break. New Orleans sits in 8th place in the Western Conference standings.

LSU’s top quarterback target for the 2019 recruiting class has decommitted from Texas A-and-M. Six-foof-six, Grant Gunnell, who is considered the nation’s number two pro-style passer is someone Ed Orgeron’s staff covets. According to Geaux 24-7 sports, Gunnell will visit the LSU campus this weekend. Cleveland-dot-com reports Gunnell decommitted from Texas A-and-M after receiving an offer Ohio State.

WAFB-TV reports Coach O has bought a home on a lake in Baton Rouge’s University club subdivision. He’s currently living in the Mandeville area.

A CBS Sports report finds per-game attendance at college football games in 2017 dropped an average of 14-hundred fans in 2017, which is the largest drop in 34 years and the 2nd-largest ever. LSU saw its average attendance decline as well from 101-thousand in 2016 to 98-thousand last season.

Tough night in Tuscaloosa LSU as was blown out by a surging Alabama team. The Tigers shot just 39-percent from the field in an 80-65 loss to the Crimson Tide. While Bama shot 55%. Danta Hall had a huge game for the winning team as he had 20 points and eight rebounds. LSU is now 4-7 in the SEC.

There are some big games in the Southland tonight. In Thibodaux, Nicholls hosts Sam Houston State. The Colonels are looking for their first win over the Bearkats since 2013. Nicholls enters the game a half-game ahead of Sam Houston State for first place.

Southeastern Louisiana and UNO are tied with Sam Houston for second and they play each other in Hammond at 7 PM. The Lions are trying to win their 11^th Southland game of the season for only the third time in program history. Travin Thibodaux leads the Privateers, averaging 17 points a game.

The Pelicans play their final game before the All-Star break tonight as they host the Los Angeles Lakers. New Orleans is looking for its third straight win as it seems like they’ve righted the ship after the season ending injury to DeMarcus Cousins.

An LSU quarterback target in the class of 2019 has decommitted from Texas A-and-M. Grant Gunnell is a four-star QB from Houston. According to Cleveland.com, Gunnell re-opened his recruitment hours after receiving an offer from Ohio State.

A CBS sports report finds college football attendance involving FBS schools had its biggest drop in 34 years. On average, 14-hundred fewer fans attended games in 2017 compared to 2016.

Tiger Stadium has seen declines in attendance as well. The average attendance last season was 98-thousand, down from 102-thousand in 2015. The number season of ticket sales has also declined by about 25-hundred since 2015.

The LSU men’s basketball team goes up against the SEC’s best defense tonight as they visit Alabama. The Crimson Tide are allowing just 64 points a game in conference games and last time out they held nationally ranked Tennessee to 50 points in a blow out victory over the Vols. Tigers Coach Will Wade says the game plan is to attack Alabama and shoot well from the outside…
cut 19 (19) “…make 35”
Tip off is at 8:00.

The Pelicans made 14 three-pointers in their 118 to 103 win over Detroit last night. New Orleans hosts the Lakers tomorrow night.

A CBS Sports report found that college football saw its largest per-game attendance drop in 34 years during the 2017 as attendance was down 14-hundred people per game, which is a three-percent delcine from 2016. According to the Baton Rouge Advocate, LSU’s season tickets sales have dropped from 74-thousand in 2015, to just under 72-thousand. The average attendance in Tiger Stadium in 2017 was 98-thousand, down from 101-thousand in 2016.

Tulane released its football schedule for 2018. The Green Wave open the season by hosting Wake Forest and Nicholls and they’ll visit Ohio State on September 22nd.

Former Louisiana Tech player and now LSU assistant Mickie DeMoss found last night she’ll be inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame this summer. The Tallulah native was the first ever point guard for the Lady Techsters. She went on serve as an associate head coach under the legendary Pat Summit and is now assistant coach for the Lady Tigers.

Anthony Davis had another strong performance last night as he scored 38 points in the Pelicans 118-103 win over Detroit in Little Caesars Arena. Davis also had 10 rebounds. Jrue Holiday had 21 points and 12 assists and Nikola Mirotic put up the same stats. Davis and the Pelicans also knocked down 14 three-pointers…
cut 30 (12) “…..easy looks”
New Orleans is now 30-26 on the season, tied with Denver for seventh place in the Western Conference.

Grambling State won its 10th straight and moved into first place in the SWAC with a 78-55 win over Texas Southern. Ivy Smith Junior had 22 points and seven rebounds to lead the way for Grambling who is now 10-3 in the SWAC. Southern improved to 8-and-5 with a hard fought 55-51 win over Mississippi Valley State.

The LSU Tigers have another tough test on the road tonight in the SEC as they visit Alabama. The Crimson Tide are coming off a 28-point win over at the time 15th ranked Tennessee. Tigers Coach Will Wade says Bama is playing great….
Cut 17 (19) “statistically”
LSU is coming off an 82-66 victory over Ole Miss. Rebels Head Coach Andy Kennedy says he is stepping down at the end of the season.

According to ESPN analysis, the Saints will have the second toughest schedule in the NFL. New Orleans has road games versus Dallas and Minnesota and they’ll host the Rams, Steelers and Super Bowl champion Eagles, plus the usual home and away against NFC South foes.

The Pelicans look to finish off their three game road trip with a win tonight in Detroit. New Orleans is coming off a double overtime win over Brooklyn. Newly acquired Nikola Mirotic had 21 points, 16 rebounds and five blocked shots in the exhausting victory on Saturday. Pels Head Coach Alvin Gentry says Mirotic is trying to get caught up to speed as fast as possible…
cut 28 (19) “…beneficial to him”
Tip-off tonight is at 6 PM.

At 8:00 in Houston, Grambling State goes after its 10th straight win as they visit Texas Southern. Grambling has tied Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the standings for first place. Also in the SWAC, Southern hosts Mississippi Valley State.

The LSU Tigers left Alabama today where they’ll face the Crimson Tide tomorrow night in Tuscaloosa. The Bayou Bengals are 5-7 in the SEC after beating Ole Miss on Saturday in convincing fashion. LSU Coach Will Wade…
cut 29 (10) “…every day”
Alabama blew out Tennessee on Saturday and they already beat LSU in the PMAC earlier this season. Tip off is at 8 PM.

It’s been a tough season for ULM, but last week was certainly a good week as the Warhawks went through the Peach State and beat Georgia Southern and upset Georgia State. Today ULM Senior Sam McDaniel was named Sun Belt Player of the Week. He had 23 points and allowed 11 boards a game.

The Ragin Cajuns have a two-game lead for first place in the Sun Belt. UL Lafayette hosts Texas State on Thursday, while Warhawks will battle Texas-Arlington.

Nicholls State is in first place in the Southland by a half a game and they host Sam Houston State on Wednesday. Southeastern and UNO are a half game back of the Colonels and they play each other in Hammond on Wednesday.

The LSU Tigers improved to 5-7 in the SEC on Saturday with an easy 82-66 win over Ole Miss. Duop Reath had a huge game, 26 points, five rebounds and a blocked shot. Skylar Mays added 17 points, 15 in the second half. The game was tied at halftime, but the Tigers outscored the Rebels 45-29 in the second half. LSU is at Alabama tomorrow night. The Crimson Tide upset 15th ranked Tennessee on Saturday.

UL-Lafayette bounced back from a loss last Thursday by beating Georgia Southern 102-91 on Saturday. Johnathan Stove scored a career-high 28 points, while Bryce Washington had a double-double 18 points and 13 rebounds. The Cajuns are now 11-1 in the Sun Belt, still in first place.

ULM had a successful road trip to the Peach State as they beat Georgia State 90-82 in overtime. Sam McDaniel had 23 points and 12 reobunds. The Warhawks are 5-7 in the Sun Belt.

Louisiana Tech fell to 6-7 in Conference USA by losing to Old Dominion 82-69. The Bulldogs host UAB on Thursday.

Nicholls heads into the week still in first place in the Southland Conference as the Colonels won their third straight on Saturday as they defeated Houston Baptist 94-67. Tevon Saddler had 22 points, while Roddy Peters had 21 points and 12 rebounds. Nicholls has a huge game on Wednesday as the host Sam Houston State. The Bearcats are a half game back of Nicholls for first place.

Southeastern and UNO are also tied with Sam Houston for second place. The Lions beat McNeese 74-67 on Saturday and they host UNO on Wednesday night.

Grambling State has moved into a tie for first place in the SWAC as they’ve won nine straight. They beat Prairie View 90-85 on Saturday. Tonight they are at Texas Southerm

The Pelicans conclude a three-game road trip tonight as they visit Blake Griffin and the Detroit Pistons

The Saints have announced they are raising ticket prices for next season. The NFL franchise has told their fans that 75-percent of the seats will see an increase of 10-percent or less and some seats could see even higher increases. The team says the extra revenue will be used to improve the fan experience inside the Mercedes Benz Superdome. The Saints also say it will put their ticket prices around the league average.

The Pelicans begin a three-game road trip in Philadelhipa tonight as they take on the 76ers. New Orleans is just 1-4 since All-Star DeMarcus Cousins went down with a season ending knee injury. But the Pels should feel fresh after Wednesday night’s game was postponed because of a leaky Smoothie King Center roof. Tip off is at 6 PM in the Wells Fargo Center.

LSU baseball has been picked to finish fourth in the SEC West in a preseason poll of the coaches. Arkansas is the favorite to win the West, followed by Texas A-and-M and Ole Miss.

The LSU men’s basketball team is back home Saturday afternoon to host the Ole Miss Rebels. Both teams are 4-7 in league play, but the Rebels have lost four in a row. Tigers Coach Will Wade says Ole Miss has good size and they are physical. He says the key is keeping them off the free throw line.

After losing their first Sun Belt game of the year, UL Lafayette is at Georgia Southern on Saturday for a 4 PM tip. ULM visits Georgia State, who just beat the Cajuns. The Warhawks are coming off an overtime win over Georgia Southern.

Louisiana Tech has a tough matchup inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Saturday night as they host Old Dominion. The Monarchs are 9-2 in Conference Play, while the Bulldogs are 6-and-6.

In the Southland, first place Nicholls State hosts Houston Baptist. Southeastern Louisiana, who is a half-game back of the Colonels is at McNeese State.

Grambling who has won eight in a row visits Prairie View A-and-M. Southern hosts SWAC leader Arkansas Pine Bluff.

Governor John Bel Edwards has set today as the deadline to call a February special session to address the fiscal cliff. Matt Doyle has more…
voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Three members of Louisiana’s Congressional delegation voted this morning for a spending bill to reopen government after a brief shutdown. US Representatives Ralph Abraham, Clay Higgins and Steve Scalise voted for it, while no votes came from Garret Graves, Mike Johnson, Cedric Richmond and both of Louisiana’s U-S Senators.

Even though it looks nice today, a wet rainy weekend is still threatening to dampen Mardi Gras parades around the state on Saturday. Rain is expected, especially in south Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it won’t be a heavy continuous downpour
Cut 6 (08) “of that.”
Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, who leads tourism efforts in the state, knows the rain will not dampen the spirit…
cut 4 (12) “…of the state”
An 83-year-old woman from Gonzales has claimed a 525-thousand Lousiaina Lotto prize. Her quick-pick ticket bough at Little Capital of Louisiana in Breaux Bridge matched all six numbers on the January 20th drawing. Josephine Prendergast told Lottery officials she’ll spend her winnings on really good P-J’s coffee.

LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron has completed filling out his 10-person coaching staff with the hiring of former Rutgers co-defensive coordinator Bill Busch. Busch also coach underneath Dave Aranda, when he was the D-C at Wisconsin.

There’s a report LSU has hired Doug Nussmeier as an offensive analyst. He’s a former offensive coordinator at Florida, Alabama and Michigan. His offenses at Florida and Michigan did not perform well.

Louisiana Tech signed eight high school prospects and two transfers on national signing day. That’s a total class of 24, 13 of them on the offensive side of the ball. Five on the offensive line and five more in the backfield.

Ragin Cajuns Billy Napier’s first recruiting class consists of 16 players. Ten of the signeees are from the Louisiana-Mississippi-Texas area. The group includes former Ole Miss defensive lineman Garrald McDowell and running back Chris Smith who scored 23 touchdowns last season as a prep player in Mississippi.

It was a very active NBA trade deadline, where the Cavaliers did a complete overhaul of their roster as they nearly built a new team around LeBron James. The Pelicans made one trade as they sent veteran forward Dante Cunningham to Brooklyn for third year guard Rashad Vaughn. Vaughn is a former 2015 first round pick and has averaged just 3 points in 134 NBA games.

Also, former Ragin Cajun Elfrid Payton was traded by Orlando to Phoenix for a second round pick.

Big game for the Ragin Cajuns men’s basketball team tonight as they visit Georgia State. UL Lafayette has won 10 straight, the Panthers have won nine in a row. Six-foot-three sophomore guard D’Marcus Simonds leads the Panthers, averaging 21 points a game. But Coach Bob Marlin says their hottest player at the moment is shooting guard Devin Mitchell….
Cut 17 (09) “by 30″