Ben Simmons vs. North Florida: Stats, Highlights and Reaction

LSU freshman forward Ben Simmons hasn't taken very long to assert his dominance in the NCAA. On Wednesday night, he showed off his ability even further, dropping 43 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and five steals in a 119-108 win against North Florida at Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Simmons shot 15-of-20 from the field and made an additional 13-of-15 free throws in a history-making night, as ESPN Stats & Info pointed out:

ESPN Stats & Info also took a look at his shot chart:  

"I definitely felt like they couldn't really stop me in the post," Simmons said, per the Times-Picayune's Randy Rosetta. "They helped me build my confidence by throwing me the ball. Once I had it, I knew where I was going."

LSU Basketball highlighted how Simmons' night put him in good company:   

For ESPN's Jay Williams, Simmons is living up to all the hype:

The Tigers needed every bit of Simmons' effort to narrowly defeat North Florida, as the 19-year-old has experienced a rough start in the win-loss column, per ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman:

"I'm tired of losing," Simmons said, per the Associated Press (via ESPN.com). "I just wanted everyone to get energy and try to play as a team. The three losses fueled the fire a little bit. I definitely felt like they couldn't stop me in the post. My teammates built my confidence by throwing me the ball. Once I had it, I knew where I was going."

On the day he was named to the Naismith Trophy's early-season watch list, Simmons made quite a statement, even if it was against a mid-major like North Florida. Tigers fans should enjoy watching this while they can because it's not likely Simmons will be hanging around college much longer with the NBA beckoning. 

Stats courtesy of ESPN.com.