Tough losses for LSU and Louisiana Tech on the hardwood last night. The Fighting Tigers began a three-game homestand by losing to one of the worst teams in the SEC. Auburn’s KT Harrell scored 28 points to lead the War Eagles to an 81-77 win over the Bayou Bengals.

UAB went on a 19-4 run in the second half to open up a close game and eventually win 80-60 over Louisiana tech. The Bulldogs scored just six points in the final 13 minutes and fall to 8-and-2 in Conference USA, a game back of first place Western Kentucky.

In the Sun Belt, ULM is a half game back of Georgia Southern after beating Arkansas Little Rock 77-61 for their third straight win. The Warhawks are at Georgia Southerntomorrow night. U-L Lafayette defeated Appalachian State 81 to 66. Hayward Register scored a career-high 20 points as he cashed in with six three-pointers.

LSU Baseball Coach Paul Mainieri has announced that freshman infielder Greg Diechman will miss the next four to six weeks because of a stress fracture in his foot. Deichman has been working at second and third base during preseason workouts.

NFL analyst Mike Detillier says A big story to watch for the Saints this offseason will be whether the team restructures quarterback Drew Brees’ contract. Brees is set to make almost 19-million dollars in 2015. Detillier says the Saints could decide to add a year or two to his contract in order to free up some salary cap space for this season…

cut 18 (17) “…the field”

In the NBA tonight, the Pelicans are at the Thunder. New Orleans lost to Oklahoma City on Wednesday night in the Smoothie King Center.

The agent for Saints backup quarterback Luke McCown announced that his client is returning to the Black and Gold next season. He’s reportedly signed a one-year deal that will pay him 970-thousand dollars next year. The former Louisiana Tech QB has been with the Saints since the 2013 season.

Based on what football recruiting experts say, LSU’s 2015 class is ranked anywhere between the fifth best class in the nation to the 13th. While fans like focusing on the four and five star prospects, LSU Coach Les Miles says Jesuit tight end Foster Moreau is a three-star prospect to keep an eye on
cut 18 (16) “…off the field”
Acadiana’s Bry’Kiethon Mouton is another three-star tight end that’s part of LSU’s 2015 signing class.

Bossier Parish Community College makes history as they sign a female player to a baseball scholarship. Michelle Southern reports…
cut 2 (30) “….reporting”

Former Southeastern Louisiana star Wade Miley has signed a three-year contract extension with the Boston Red Sox. Miley will reportedly receive 19-million dollars over the course of the deal and there is an option for fourth year. Miley spent his first four seasons with Arizona, last year with the D-Backs he was 8-and-12 with a 4.34 ERA.

LSU’s 2015 football recruiting class features seven of the top ten ranked players in the state, including Warren Easton wide receiver Tyron Johnson, who is Louisiana’s top prospect. Coach Les Miles says Johnson will be a dominant wide receiver at LSU…
cut 17 (17) “….we’ll play you”
Miles said at the Bayou Bash that if Louisiana high school football players don’t want to play at LSU than the hell with him. You can see it for yourself at tiger-rag-dot-com.

The Oklahoma City Thunder scored the final 13 points to outlast the New Orleans Pelicans 102-91 last night. The Thunder’s Russell Westbrook had a career-high 45 points.

U-L Lafayette signed 24 football players on national signing day. The class is ranked first among Sun Belt schools by both Scout-dot-com and 24-7-sports.com. Five offensive lineman are part of this class and Coach Mark Hudspeth says they are all really good…
cut 30 (13) “…that aspect”
One of those offensive lineman is Cole Prudhomme from Eunice.

U-L-M’s class has three quarterbacks, including Delhi Charter’s Frank Maxwell. Warhawks recruiting coordinator Mario Price says they like to have competition at that position…
cut 20 (15) “….those numbers’
The other two quarterbacks are Will Collins from Oklahoma and Chandler Eiland from Texas.

Based on what football recruiting experts say, LSU’s 2015 class is ranked anywhere between the fifth best class in the nation to the 13th. Coach Les Miles says this is a class that will help them compete for championships….
cut 16 (17) “…your campus”
LSU signed seven of the top ten players in the state.

Wednesday wasn’t just national signing day for football, it was for other sports as well, including baseball, where Bossier Parish Community College signed a girl, who will pitch on their baseball team. Coach Aaron Voracheck says Sarah Hudek is a left-hander who throws around 80-miles per hour…
cut 7 (04) “…signing another pitcher”
Sarah is the daughter of former MLB All-Star John Hudek.

Louisiana Tech signed 14 three-star prospects, including a dual threat quarterback from Merdian, Mississippi named J’Mar Smith. Coach Skip Holtz says Smith has a lot of potential…
cut 19 (15) “…athletic”

The Ragin Cajuns signed a quarterback from Alabama. His name is Chris Weaver and Coach Mark Hudspeth says Weaver will be that quarterback that will lead them into the future…
cut 20 (17) “…Chris Weaver”
The Cajuns also signed Dion Ray, who played quarterback at Helen Cox in New Orleans.

LSU’s 2015 recruiting class is loaded with four and five-star offensive linemen. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says the Tigers signed two of the best offensive linemen in Texas, Toby Weathersby and Maea Teuhema, plus a couple of other out-of-state prospects that were heavily recruited by other schools…
cut 12 (09) “…earlier in the process”
LSU also signed a quartertback today. Justin McMillan from Cedar Hill, Texas. Mike Farrell, director of national recruiting with Rivals-dot-com, says Tigers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron really likes McMillan, but expect him to redshirt this season,…
cut 18 (18) “…pretty good”
According to 24-7 sports, LSU has the fifth best recruiting class.

According to Scout-dot-com, U-L Lafayette has the top recruiting class in the Sun Belt. The Cajuns signed ten three-star prospects today, including Helen Cox quarterback Dion Ray, Lafayette kicker Stevie Artigue, Ouachita Parish tight end Carlos Robinson, Ascension Catholic defensive end Delmond Landry and cornerback Jeryl Brazil from East Mississippi community college.

According to scout-dot-com, ULM signed one three-star prospect and that’s Jaylen Veasley, who is six-foot-one, 265-pound defensive tackle Rockwall High School in Texas.

Scout has Louisiana Tech’s class as the fourth best in Conference USA. They have the Bulldogs signing eight three-star prospects including Neville defensive tackle Courtney Wallace, Northsside offensive tackle Oshea Dugas, and Loreauville wide reciever Rhashid Bonnette.

In the NBA…the Pelicans host the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight.

National signing day is in full swing and according to Rivals.com, LSU’s class as it stands now is the eighth best in the nation. This class includes two defensive linemen, Edna Karr defensive end Isaiah Washington and Arden Key, a defensive end from Atlanta. Mike Farrell, director of national recruiting with rivals.com, says some recruiting gurus compare Key to former LSU Tiger and first round pick Barkevious Mingo,….
cut 17 (17) “….this class”
LSU’s class also features five offensive linemen, including five-star prospect Maea Teuhema from Keller, Texas.

ULM has welcomed over 25 players to its program, including three quarterbacks, Will Collins from Oklahoma, Chandler Eiland from Canton, Texas and Frank Mazwell from Delhi Charter. U-L Lafayette’s class also has a quarterback in it and his name is Christopher Weaver from Saraland, Alabama.

Louisiana Tech has signed a six-foot-two, 254 pound defensive tackle out of Shreveport and that is La’Dante Davenport from Northwood High School. Also signing with the Bulldogs from Louisiana, athlete Rhashid Bonnette from Loreauville, Huntington defensive back Aaron Roberson from Shreveport and Coach Skip Holtz was able to get Texas Tech commit and Neville defensive lineman Courtney Wallace to sign with the Bulldogs.

Northwestern State has signed a couple of linemen from the Shreveport area, Evangel Christian offensive lineman Houston Meller and defensive tackle Charlie Matthews from Airline.

Northwestern State mens’ basketball won its fourth straight last night as it rallied from a 12-point second half deficit to beat Central Arkansas 110 to 108.

And in the NBA, the Pelicans host Oklahoma City tonight. Kevin Durant not expected to play because of a toe injury.

It’s national signing day and the LSU Tigers are expected to bring in another Top Ten recruiting class in football. Mike Farrell, director of national recruiting with Rivals-dot-com, says LSU has four 5-star prospects, including two from Louisiana, Catholic High running back Derrius Guice and Warren Easton wide receiver Tyron Johnson…

Cut 16 (19) “got there”

LSU’s 2015 signing class includes one quarterback. His name is Justin McMillan from Cedar Hill, Texas.

As it stands now, Louisiana Tech has the second best recruiting class in Conference USA according to Rivals.com. One of the Bulldogs top commitments is Loreauville athlete Rhashid Bonnette. Rivals has ULM with the fourth best recruiting class in the Sun Belt, one of their commitments is Neville defensive end Donald Louis.

The Pelicans are back in action tonight as they host the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Pels have won five of their last six, including a big win Monday which ended the Atlanta Hawks 19-game winning streak. The Thunder limp into tonight’s matchup having lost four of their last six games with league MVP Kevin Durant missing the last four games due to a sprained big toe. Durant is listed as day-to-day. Tipoff is scheduled for seven o’clock.

Last night in the Southland Conference it was a wild one in Conway, Arkansas as Northwestern State edged the still winless Central Arkansas Bears 110-108. The Demons’ Jalen West lead all scorers with 28, while Zeek Woodley added 26. In total, 10 players in this game scored in double figures. Northwestern improves to 7-3 in conference play and will next host Stephen F. Austin Monday night.

Former LSU and NFL football player Quinn Johnson has been arrested in Ascension Parish on several charges related to domestic abuse. Authorities say one of disputes with his girlfriend became so serious, he pulled a gun on the victim and allegedly threatened to kill her, because she wouldn’t give up the passcode on her cellphone.

Tomorrow is national signing day in football. The LSU Tigers have a chance to reel in another top ten recruiting class. One of the big names in this class is five-star running back Derrius Guice, from Catholic High School. His head coach, Dale Weiner, says Guice has a great blend of speed and power…
cut 30 (17) “…SEC running back”

As it stands now, Louisiana Tech has the second best recruiting class in Conference USA according to Rivals.com. One of the Bulldogs top commitments is Loreauville athlete Rhashid Bonnette. Rivals has ULM with the fourth best recruiting class in the Sun Belt, one of there commitments is Neville defensive end Donald Louis.

We’re ten days away from the start of the college baseball season. The LSU Tigers will have an experienced line-up, but they’ll be young on the mound. Tigers shortstop Alex Bregman likes what he sees from the young pitchers…
cut 18 (16) “…in the SEC”
One of those young pitchers is redshirt freshman Jesse Stallings and Coach Paul Mainieri says there’s a good chance he could be LSU’s closer this season.

Former LSU and NFL football player Quinn Johnson has been arrested in Ascension Parish on several charges related to domestic abuse. Authorities say one of disputes with his girlfriend became so serious, he pulled a gun on the victim and allegedly threatened to kill her, because she wouldn’t give up the passcode on her cellphone.

The Pelicans put an end to Atlanta’s 19-game winning streak last night by beating the Hawks 115 to 100. Anthony Davis led all players with 29 points and 13 rebounds. It was Atlanta’s first loss since December 26th. For New Orleans, its record improves to 26-and-22, one game back of Phoenix for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Pels host the Thunder tomorrrow night.

The LSU Tigers received a verbal commitment last night from four star Georgia defensive end Arden Key. He’s six-foot-five, 230 pounds and chose the Tigers after visiting LSU a couple of weeks ago.

ULM has received a verbal commitment from Delhi Charter Quarterback Frank Maxwell.

In NFL news, Saints offensive guard Jahri Evans reportedly had surgery on his wrist, but the procedure was classified as a minor and he’s expected to be available for organized team activities.

LSU shortstop Alex Bregman has been named to Baseball America’s preseason All-America first team. Bregman and the Tigers missed out on the College World Series last season, because they were upset by Houston in the Regionals. He says the team is very determined to get back to Omaha this year…
cut 17 (21) “….Kansas on opening night”
LSU begins its regular season on February 13th against Kansas.

In college basketball last night…McNeese State won in Hammond for the first time since 2005 as they beat Southeastern Louisiana 73-60. Nicholls State upended UNO 67 to 55. And Grambling lost to Mississippi Valley State.

Anthony Davis makes a triumphant return to the lineup as the Pelicans defeated the Atlanta Hawks 115-100 last night in the Smoothie King Center. Davis scored 29 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in his return from a groin strain. In fact, a total of 6 Pelicans scored in double figures as they ended the Hawks 19-game winning streak. The Pels have won six of their last seven. Next up for the Pels – a home date Wednesday night with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

In college basketball, McNeese State has won two in a row after beating Southeastern Louisiana 73-60. The Cowboys were lead by Desharick Guidry’s 19 points and 10 rebounds. The Lions will look to bounce back this Saturday at Abilene Christian while McNeese will look to make it three in a row when they face Nicholls State.

Speaking of the Colonels, they’ll be coming off of a 67-55 win over UNO.

And Mississippi Valley State sqeeked by Grambling last night 68-65.

LSU shortstop Alex Bregman is on the Baseball America’s preseason All-American first team. Bregman hit .316 with 16 doubles six home runs and 47 RBIs. Bregman hopes to put up better offensive numbers this season, because this year’s baseballs have lower seams on them…

cut 16 (19) “is going to be”

Bregman and the Tigers missed out on the College World Series last season when they were upset by Houston in the Regionals.

Louisiana Tech’s 2015 football schedule features six games at Joe Aillet Stadium, starting with the season opener against Southern on September 5th. The Bulldogs will also host Florida International, U-L Lafayette, Middle Tennessee, North Texas, and Southern Miss. Tech’s road games are against UTEP, Rice, Texas-San Antonio, Mississippi State, Kansas State and Western Kentucky.