LSU claims SEC title, will meet OSU for BCS title

Fresh off an SEC Championship Game victory, the LSU football team knew it was going to New Orleans for a January bowl game.

But after the Tigers’ 21-14 win over Tennessee in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome, they got some help as top-ranked Missouri and No. 2 West Virginia lost, thrusting LSU (10-2) into the BCS National Championship Game.

The LSU Tigers will enter the game as the No. 2 seed in the BCS and will square off against Ohio State (11-1) on Jan. 7 at the Louisiana Superdome.

Also helping LSU’s surge in the polls was the fact that two teams ranked ahead of them – Georgia and Kansas – did not play as a result of not qualifying for their conference championship games.

LSU, which was ranked No. 1 twice during the season, was ranked No. 2 in the preseason polls. Ohio State, champions of the Big Ten, hasn’t played since defeating Michigan on Nov. 17. The Tigers and Buckeyes have met twice on the gridiron, first with a 13-13 tie in 1987 in Baton Rouge before Ohio State won 36-33 in Columbus in 1988.

LSU has won National Championships in 1958 and 2003 — beating Oklahoma 21-14 in the New Orleans Superdome on Jan. 4, 2004.

Against Tennessee, the Tiger defense got an interception returned 18 yards for a touchdown by Jonathan Zenon with under 10 minutes left to play and then got a key interception in the red zone by Darry Beckwith to give LSU its 10th SEC Football Championship in school history. A two-point run by starting quarterback Ryan Perrilloux after the touchdown accounted for the final score.

The touchdown by Zenon was surprisingly the first defensive touchdown of the season for LSU.

Tennessee (9-4) took the opening kickoff and scored a touchdown. LSU cut the lead to 7-6 at the half with a pair of 30-yard field goals by Colt David, who missed a 30-yarder with seconds in the half.

The Tigers took their first lead of the game when Perrilloux, who started in place of injured Matt Flynn, found Demetrius Byrd for a 27-yard touchdown hookup with 11:52 left in the third quarter.

The Volunteers took a one-point lead with 3:09 left in the third quarter. LSU outgained Tennessee, 464-343, which included 94 yards rushing.

The Tigers rushed for 212 yards. Perrilloux was 20-for-30 for 243 yards. His one-touchdown and one-interception performance earned his game MVP honors.

Jacob Hester rushed for 121 yards on 23 attempts.

Byrd had four catches for 72 yards. Safety Craig Steltz led the team with eight tackles, while Ali Highsmith added seven tackles.

Men’s hoops win pair

On Friday, the LSU men’s basketball team notched an 88-45 victory over Southern. On Wednesday, the Tigers whipped Nicholls State, 68-41.

Against Southern, Anthony Randolph scored 24 points, had 11 rebounds and registered five blocks. Marcus Thornton added 22 points, while Chris Johnson chimed in with 20 points. Against NSU, the Tigers held an opponent to the lowest point total since 2002 as Thornton led LSU with 24 points. Johnson added 16 points and Bo Spencer had 11 points. This week, LSU (5-2) will participate in the Big East/SEC Challenge on Thursday when it travels to Philadelphia to take on Villanova at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN.

Also this week, the Tigers learned they will be without the services of standout Tasmin Mitchell, who is expected to have surgery on his ankle soon.

Women’s hoops take two

The No. 7 LSU women’s basketball team defeated two teams on the road this past week. On Thursday, the Lady Tigers beat Houston 77-46, and then whipped Tulane on Sunday, 52-36.

Against Tulane, Sylvia Fowles had 17 points and 13 rebounds. Allison Hightower added 15 points.

Against Houston, Fowles led the Lady Tigers with 19 points, while Quinna Chaney and Ashley Thomas each added 11 points. RaShonta LeBlanc chimed in with 10 points for LSU, which will be off until Dec. 16 when it plays at Louisiana Tech.

Volleyball team ends

run in playoffs

The LSU volleyball team season came to an end on Saturday when the Lady Tigers fell to No. 3 Texas in three games in Austin, Texas.

LSU finished the season 25-8 after the second-round loss. In the first round of action, the Lady Tigers beat No. 14 New Mexico State on Friday.

Against Texas, Marina Skender had 16 kills, while Kyna Washington added 13 kills.

Against New Mexico State, the Lady Tigers notched their first NCAA Tournament victory in 15 years as Angela Bensend led the surge with 16 kills.

Washington had 15 kills and Skender chimed in with 12 kills and 10 aces.

Brittney Johnson had 15 blocks and Elena Martinez added 25 digs.