LSU upsets defending champion Florida

The LSU men’s basketball team posted arguably their best victory of the season Wednesday by beating defending national champion Florida, 85-73, in Gainesville.

The win was only the second of the season in SEC action. Leading the way for the Tigers was Anthony Randolph (22 points) and Marcus Thornton (20 points). LSU jumped out to a 20-6 advantage and posted the wire-to-wire win. Chris Johnson added 19 points in interim head coach Butch Pierre’s first collegiate victory.

The Tigers (9-15, 2-8) almost pulled off another upset three days later against Kentucky at home, but fell 67-63. In that contest, Randolph had 24 points and 14 rebounds. Terry Martin added 12 points in the loss. LSU, which has not won a home SEC game yet this season, will play at Arkansas on Wednesday at 7 p.m. and then play host to Ole Miss at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

LADY TIGERS STILL UNDEFEATED

The LSU women’s basketball team had a good week as they knocked off top-ranked Tennessee in Knoxville, 78-62, on Thursday and then routed Ole Miss, 78-48, at home on Sunday. LSU (22-3, 11-0) has won its last 13 games.

Against Tennessee, the Lady Tigers were down by 19 points eight minutes into the game, but stormed back to post their fourth straight victory at Knoxville. LSU outscored Tennessee, 48-29, in the second half. Sylvia Fowles had 17 points and 14 rebounds. Erica White added 16 points, Quianna Chaney added 14 points and RaShonta LeBlanc had 11 points. Allison Hightower and Ashley Thomas each poured in 10 points.

In the rout of Ole Miss, Fowles had 22 points and Hightower scored 13 points.

The next three games will be at home for the Lady Tigers, who play host to Kentucky (Thursday at 7 p.m.), Connecticut (Monday at 6 p.m.) and Arkansas (Feb. 28 at 7 p.m.). The game against UConn will be nationally televised by ESPN2.

PITTMAN GETS ANOTHER YEAR

The LSU football team picked up perhaps its biggest name for the 2008 season on Monday when the NCAA announced that defensive end Kirston Pittman has been granted a sixth-year of eligibility. Pittman, who missed all of the 2005 and 2006 seasons for the Tigers with a foot and ankle injuries, formally applied for an extension of his five-year clock in early January. After reviewing Pittman’s documentation, the NCAA granted the additional year of eligibility.

Pittman, a native of Garyville, La., signed with the Tigers in February of 2003 and saw action in 13 games as a true freshman during LSU’s run to the national title that year. Pittman played in 12 games as a sophomore in 2004 before missing all of 2005 and 2006 with injuries.  Pittman returned to the field in 2007 to once again help lead the Tigers to a national title. Pittman started all 14 games for LSU this past season, leading the team in sacks (8.0) and tackles for loss (13.5). Pittman also recorded 68 tackles to go with 14 quarterback hurries and an interception. Pittman, who earned his college diploma in December graduating with a degree in general studies, is one of five returning starters on the defensive side of the football for LSU going into the 2008 season.

SOFTBALL WINS TIGER CLASSIC

With one of the best weekends of her career, LSU second baseman Shannon Stein earned Most Valuable Player honors as the Tigers swept a pair of games on on Sunday to capture the 2008 Easton Tiger Classic championship at Tiger Park. LSU posted a 10-2 win over Ball State in six innings before coming from behind to defeat Nicholls State, 9-2, in the championship game. The Tigers (6-0) will face in-state rival Southeastern Louisiana on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Tiger Park before traveling to Palm Springs, Calif., this weekend for the prestigious Palm Springs Classic.

Batting from the ninth spot, Stein posted a .667 batting average on 10-for-15 hitting. She recorded a pair of doubles and the second home run of her career to go along with five RBIs, six runs scored and three stolen bases. In the championship game against the Colonels, she was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a run scored.

Along with Stein, the Tigers’ Dani Hofer, Tayl’r Hollis and Quinlan Duhon were named to the all-tournament team. Hofer was 3-0 on the weekend, including a win in the title game, while Hollis hit .412 with a double, triple, two home runs and 11 RBIs. Duhon recorded a .438 average with two doubles, a home run and seven RBIs.

BRADFORD ON WATCH LIST

LSU senior pitcher Jared Bradford was named to the 2008 Golden Spikes Award Watch List. The award is presented each season by USA Baseball to the nation’s outstanding amateur player. The 2008 Golden Spikes Award winner will be announced on July 16. Former LSU pitcher Ben McDonald was the 1989 recipient of the award. Bradford, a right-hander from Hueytown, Ala., completed the 2007 regular season with a 10-4 mark and led LSU with five saves.

A 2007 second-team all-SEC selection, Bradford worked a team-high 96 innings, recording 16 walks, 81 strikeouts and a .255 opponents’ batting average. He started 11 games and made 12 relief appearances during the regular season.

Bradford is scheduled to be LSU’s starting pitcher on Friday when the Tigers open the 2008 season against Indiana in Alex Box Stadium.

The Tigers have been picked to finish fifth in the SEC West this season.