LSU sputters at start, still destroys Northwestern State

Jordan Sears scored 18 points and LSU overcame a tough first half to run away from Northwestern State in a 77-53 nonconference victory Friday in Baton Rouge, La.

Cam Carter added all 15 of his points in the second half for the Tigers (6-1), who trailed by one point at halftime but produced a 52-27 scoring advantage in the second half.

LSU’s Jalen Reed and Vyctorious Miller each finished with 11 points, and Corey Chest had 10 rebounds and nine points.

In the second half, LSU shot 53.1 percent from the floor and 50 percent (7 of 14) on 3-point attempts, while Northwestern State shot 28.6 percent from both the floor and long range (4 of 14). The Tigers outshot the Demons 44.8 percent to 31.3 percent from the field for the game.

Jon Sanders II scored 14 points but made just 5 of 15 field-goal attempts to lead the Demons (2-5).

Carter made a 3-pointer to start the second-half scoring and Chest added a dunk to give LSU a 30-26 lead.

Sanders made a 3-pointer, but then the Demons went cold. Sears and Carter made back-to-back 3-pointers, Dji Bailey converted a three-point play and Carter made two more field goals during the 17-0 run that extended the Tigers’ lead to 47-29.

Chris Mubiru’s field goal ended a scoring drought of more than six minutes for Northwestern State, but Carter and Curtis Givens III each made a 3-pointer as LSU extended its lead to 60-34 midway through the half.

Sears made a 3-pointer to start the scoring and Sanders answered with a 3-pointer, but those were the only points in the first 4 1/2 minutes. The score was tied two more times before Sanders made a tying 3-pointer.

Northwestern State opened a six-point lead, but Sears made two straight 3-pointers to tie the score at 19. Sanders sank a tiebreaking 3-pointer before the Tigers tied it again.

Sanders made a jumper for his third tiebreaking field goal before Reed’s dunk completed the first-half scoring and left the Demons with a 26-25 halftime lead.

–Field-level media