BATON ROUGE -- Former LSU men's basketball center, Greg "Cookieman" Cook, passed away in Houston, Texas, Saturday afternoon in his sleep at the age of 46.

The cause of death is unknown at this time.

Cook, originally from Roselle, N. J., was a member of the NCAA Final Four team in 1981 that won 17 straight SEC games in winning the league title with a 17-1 record and a 31-5 overall mark. Cook was known for his hustling, aggressive style of defense that caused havoc with pivot players throughout the league.

Cook played at LSU during the 1976-77 season, sat out the 77-78 season and returned to the team for his final three seasons, 1979-81. Cook averaged 9.2 points during the Final Four season along with 5.3 rebounds. His best statistical season was his freshman season (1977) when he averaged 11.5 points and 9.2 rebounds. Cook is presently 11th all-time at LSU in career rebounds with 780 boards.

Cook was named the second team center behind Shaquille O'Neal on the "LSU Team of the Dale Brown Era (1972-97) as selected by a panel of local and regional media along with LSU administrators associated with the basketball program.

"I just spent time with Greg in Houston and even though he was in severe pain he never complained," said his former LSU coach, Dale Brown. "That's typical Greg. Greg was special as a player and person. Every one that ever played with Greg loved him and a testimony to that will be the numbers of former players that will be in Houston Wednesday for the services. He was a team player. He was a hard-nosed defensive player who did everything for the good of the team. I'm heartbroken about his passing. I loved the Cookieman.

Services are scheduled for Wednesday at 11 a.m. in Houston at Brookhollow Baptist Church, 5725 Queenston Blvd.