LSU returns to Ruston, wins 76-45

After nearly 17 years without a trip to Ruston, the No. 8 LSU women’s basketball team looked right at home against its northern rival Louisiana Tech on Sunday.

LSU (7-2) held the Lady Techsters to 26.7-percent shooting in a 76-45 blowout at Thomas Assembly Center.

Sylvia Fowles had 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds. RaShonta LeBlanc added 10 points, dished out six assists and recorded four steals. Ashley Thomas and Marian Whitfield also netted 10 points apiece.

The Lady Tigers will take on Miami (Fla.) at 2:20 p.m. Wednesday in the Caribbean Classic in Cancun, Mexico.

Tigers whip Demons

The LSU men’s basketball team recorded another blowout win over an in-state opponent after a 82-58 victory over Northwestern State on Saturday in Baton Rouge.

The Tigers (6-3) won for the fifth time this year against Louisiana competition at the Maravich Center, extending for another season the home winning streak against state schools that now totals 67 straight, dating back to Dec. 8, 1988.

Marcus Thornton led LSU with 22 points.

The Tigers also got 16 points from Chris Johnson and 15 points from Terry Martin.

Anthony Randolph chimed in with 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds.

The Tigers will travel to Wichita, Kansas for a Wednesday game at Wichita State at 7 p.m.

The team will come home for the first of two straight Saturdays against Pac-10 foes as LSU plays Oregon State at 2 p.m.

Football awards banquet

Defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey and running back Jacob Hester were named recipients of the 2007 Charles McClendon Most Valuable Player Award on Sunday as LSU held its annual football banquet.

The Tigers, who were honored on Sunday night in front of a packed room at the Holiday Inn Select, are ranked No. 2 in the nation and have an overall mark of 11-2.

This year’s team spent four weeks as the nation’s No. 1 ranked team and also recorded double-figure wins for an unprecedented third straight season.

Dorsey, who is the most decorated defensive player in school history, won numerous national awards this year in helping the Tigers claim the Southeastern Conference title as well as advancing to the BCS National Championship Game against Ohio State on Jan. 7 in New Orleans.

Dorsey, who won a total of four national awards – the Lombardi, Outland, Lott and Nagurski – is the key component of an LSU defense that is rated No. 3 in the nation in yards allowed.

In 13 games, Dorsey racked up 64 tackles, 11.5 tackles for losses and six sacks.

Hester, a senior from Shreveport, was the backbone of the Tiger offense, leading the team with 1,017 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Hester rushed for 120 yards in LSU’s 21-14 win over Tennessee and was also named the national offensive player of the week for his effort in the Tigers’ 28-24 victory over Florida earlier this season.

Senior quarterback Matt Flynn was named the winner of the Percy Roberts Most Outstanding Offensive Player, while senior safety Craig Steltz was the honored with the Percy Roberts Most Outstanding Defensive Player award.

Flynn directed an LSU offense that set the school record for points scored with 503 so far this year.

The Tigers are also averaging a school-record 38.7 points per game.

In 11 games, Flynn has thrown for more than 2,200 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Steltz, a finalist for the Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back, earned numerous first-team All-America honors in 2007.

Steltz leads the Tigers with 97 tackles and he’s first in the SEC with six interceptions.

Permanent team captains were also announced on Sunday with Hester and Flynn serving for the offense, Dorsey and Steltz for the defense and punter Patrick Fisher on special teams.

Other honors handed out include: R.J. Jackson (Wild Tiger Championship Trophy for his play on special teams), Keith Zinger, Luke Sanders and Carnell Stewart (Unsung Hero Awards), Mit Cole and Sean Gaudet (Academic Awards), Shawn Jordan, Early Doucet and Sanders (Alvin Roy Strength and Conditioning Awards), Chevis Jackson, Brett Helms and Jonathan Zenon (Butch Duhe Awards for character), and Ali Highsmith and Pittman (George M. Wallace Awards for defensive production points).

Marcus Thornton scored 22 points in the Tigers’ 82-58 win over Northwestern State Saturday. (Photo by STEVE FRANZ

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