LSU basketball: Cam Thomas erupts, 3 Tigers get double-doubles to beat St. Bonaventure

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - MARCH 20: Cameron Thomas #24 of the LSU Tigers moves the ball defended by Alejandro Vasquez #10 of the St. Bonaventure Bonnies in the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Assembly Hall on March 20, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - MARCH 20: Cameron Thomas #24 of the LSU Tigers moves the ball defended by Alejandro Vasquez #10 of the St. Bonaventure Bonnies in the first round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Assembly Hall on March 20, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Cam Thomas started ice-cold for the LSU Tigers but turned up the heat to send St. Bonaventure packing from the tournament. 

Every year in March Madness, a star is born and takes center stage, and this year, it just may be Cam Thomas of the LSU Tigers. The freshman from Chesapeake, Virginia scored 27 points as the Tigers sent St. Bonaventure packing after the 76-61 win in the Round of 64.

The win is the first for head coach Will Wade during his LSU basketball tenure after missing the Tigers’ run to the Sweet 16 in 2018 due to a suspension.

At first glance, Thomas looked to be flustered by the bright lights, going 1-of-8 from the field. But soon, the switch was flipped, and he found both his groove and his team advancing to the next round and a likely matchup with 1-seed Michigan.

LSU basketball was too much for St. Bonaventure to handle

Thomas wasn’t the only Tiger to have an eye for the stat sheet. In fact, three Tigers finished with double-doubles.

Both Darius Days and Aundre Hyatt chipped in 13 points with 11 and 10 rebounds, while sophomore Trendon Watford dropped 11 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.

The LSU defense held the A-10 champions to 33.3 percent shooting and held junior star Kyle Lofton to 10 points after Lofton exploded for 23 points against VCU in the A-10 championship, including four 3-pointers. Aginst the Tigers, he went 0-for=4.

The Tigers also outrebounded the Bonnies 49-30 and made more than twice the number of 3-pointers (8-3). Additionally, LSU allowed just a single point from St. Bonaventure’s bench while chipping in five points off their bench.

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