LSU men's basketball will kick off its season under Will Wade, showcasing the new and improved program under Wade, nicknamed 'The General.'
The Tigers will face the LSU New Orleans Privateers to mark the 20th time the two in-state neighbors have met, with the season opener being the third straight season.
As Wade returns to the stage of the PMAC after a historical coaching carousel back to Baton Rouge, the anticipation for a familiar face leading new roster talent will have its first debut of the season.
Wade took the unconventional approach of filling out a roster this season, signing multiple international stars from the EuroLeague. Unfortunately, that put Wade in some rough eligibility waters , with concerns over players who signed NBA contracts.
After taking the loss in the courthouse, Wade is ready to complete a regular-season win with his eligible roster, full of transfer talent and overseas stars.
The team has already been able to secure two wins in preseason exhibition play against McNeese and UCF, before taking an unfortunate two-point loss to Florida State.
Now that the Tigers open up the regular season with a clean record, LSU fans are excited to once again see a new coach takeover a purple and gold program again.
Florida guard Xaivian Lee (1) pressures LSU forward Marquel Sutton (10) during the second half of an NCAA mens basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun] | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
PG: Donovan Dent
SG: Skyy Clark
Wing: Abdi Bashir Jr.
Forward: Mo Dioubate
Center: Brice Dessert
PG: Cham Okey
Gaurd: Kahlil Signleton
Guard: Nick Jones
Forward: Ezenwa Nwakamma
Forward: Enzo Boudouma
FIRST HALF
Dessert wins the tip-off, putting the Tigers on the board with an early dunk. Donovant Dent turns the ball over while driving down the court before being fouled and making one of two allotted free throws. He takes a shot from deep, scoring a three-pointer, before Saliou Niang comes up close for a quick layup.
Another early dunk from Michael Ruzic to set an early tone with possession. LSU-New Orleans claps back with a layup from Nwakamma before Skyy Clark finds Divine Ugochukwu for a sneaky layup for the Tigers. Ruzic continues to hang out near the rim, adding two points for back-to-back scoring possessions.
The privateers add a point after a foul free-throw for Ominu, before Ruzic makes another routine dunk in the paint. After some foul trouble, both teams slowly add on points, with five fouls from the LSU Tigers and eight from the LSU Privateers.
Niang makes a fast-break turnover against the Privateers, followed by a dunk to keep up the defensive production. Dent emerges as a playmaker, with a made three-point jumper, an assist to Ruzic, and a dunk to finish out the triple-scoring possessions.
Abdi Bashir makes his first three-point jumper of the night. Oguchukwu adds two points to the total after a personal foul, adding a late-hlaf layup as the time runs out.
SECOND HALF
Dessert once again starts the half with an early dunk, before making his first steal of the night to turn the ball over, with Dent making the jump shot. Dioubate makes a wide three-point jumper, while the New Orleans Privateers are unable to add any points to the board.
The Privateers add their first score of the half with a made free throw from Jones, with LSU's Dent responding in the paint with a layup. Dioubate is in foul trouble, receiving his third personal foul. Bashir goes or a long three-point jump shot, hitting the rim, with Ruzic showing off his vertical with a comeback dunk.
Niang can get in a dunk before Bashir scores back-to-back three-pointers to add 10 points for the Tigers. The Privateers also join in on the three-point action with a three-pointer from McDonald and a layup from Ominu.
Dessert gets his fourth personal foul as Ominu makes two free throws. Dessert adds to LSU's score with an assisted layup before Ugochukwu makes a jumper in the paint. Dessert is fouled out of the game before Ominu is fouled out just after, with Ruzic making the free throw.
Dent adds to the points in the paint with a made layup before being subbed out. As the Tigers' second-team unit takes over, UNO starter Kahlil Singleton makes a three-pointer, with an immediate response from LSU center Gilad Levy with a layup. With 30 seconds on the clock, Levy makes a three-pointer to put the Tigers at an even 100.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/lsu as Live Game Thread, LSU Tigers vs. LSU New Orleans Season-Opener .
