Mike Nwoko is turning heads with the start to his first LSU season.
The 6-foot-10 forward averages 20.3 points per game and six rebounds per game for the Tigers. Nwoko has hit 32 of 41 (78%) shots from the field and developed into the Tigers’ go-to player inside.
Nwoko and the Tigers (4-0) will try to achieve their fastest start since 2022 when they host Omaha (2-3) on Friday in Baton Rouge, La.
Nwoko, who spent his first two seasons at Mississippi State and Miami, led the Tigers to a 107-81 victory over Alcorn State Tuesday with a career-high 29 points on 12-of-15 shooting and nine rebounds.
“Mike has been fantastic on the offensive end,” LSU coach Matt McMahon said. “I’ve been really pleased with his skill level. He’s more skilled down in the post than we had anticipated coming in. He’s worked hard in the player development program.
“You see him scoring jump hooks with each hand. I think he’s using his physicality in great fashion. Great job by (guards Dedan Thomas Jr. and Max Mackinnon) getting him the ball, and that presence in the paint allows us to get to the free-throw line. (Tuesday), we made more free throws than the opponent has attempted, and we need that to be an identity of our team.”
Thomas has 28 assists in the four LSU games and Mackinnon has 12.
Omaha, which represented the Summit League in last year’s NCAA Tournament, comes off a 96-80 win over NAIA member Concordia-Nebraska on Wednesday.
Ja’Sean Glover led the way off the bench with a career-best 24 points, including a trio of 3-pointers in the second half that helped the Mavericks pull away.
Concordia stayed in the game by outrebounding Omaha 17-9 in the first half, but the Mavericks finished strong and led the rebounding category 32-30.
“I thought in the second half our defensive intensity picked up a lot,” Omaha coach Chris Crutchfield said.
Lance Waddles paced Omaha with eight rebounds to go with 21 points. Kam Thomas and Tony Osburn added 15 points apiece.
The Mavericks played without starting point guard Grant Stubblefield, who was scratched with an undisclosed injury. Stubblefield averages 9.0 points, 3.5 assists and 3.0 steals per game.
–Field Level Media
