LSU 79, McNeese State 52: Johnny O'Bryant III and Shavon Coleman collected 16 points apiece to lead four scorers in double figures for the host Tigers as they routed the Cowboys to finish unbeaten in December.
Freshman Jarell Martin notched his first career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Tigers (9-2), who had four scorers in double digits for the third game in a row. Jordan Mickey added 11 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots as LSU won its fifth straight.
Ledrick Eackles paced the Cowboys (2-10) with 13 points despite shooting only 3-of-13 from the field and a team-high eight rebounds. Craig McFerrin scored 12 points while Desharick Guidry and Kevin Hardy had 10 points apiece for McNeese State, which shot 22.6 percent from the floor, including 3-of-21 from beyond the arc to lose its seventh in a row.
The Cowboys shot 23.5 percent in the first half, but managed to keep within striking distance by going 7-of-8 at the foul line until the Tigers closed out the half with a 17-2 run to take a 42-25 lead into the break. Martin (seven), O’Bryant III (six) and Mickey (four) accounted for LSU’s final 17 points of the half while McNeese State missed four of its five shots over the final 3:22.
The Tigers never trailed by fewer than 12 in the second half, shooting 23-of-28 overall from the free throw line, including 14 in a row to start the first half. Coleman’s 10 points off the bench in the second half paced the LSU bench, which outscored McNeese State’s reserves 22-6 over the final 20 minutes.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Tigers outrebounded the Cowboys 54-39. … McNeese State wrapped up a nine-game, 46-day road trip in which they traveled more than 5,500 miles and had only one home game to start the season. … … LSU finished 5-0 in December.
McNeese St. | Louisiana State | |
Ledrick Eackles 13 | Scoring | Shavon Coleman 16 |
Brandon Regis 2 | Assists | Malik Morgan 3 |
Ledrick Eackles 8 | Rebounds | Jarell Martin 10 |
Kevin Hardy 8 | Free Throws Made | Jordan Mickey 7 |
Kevin Hardy 4 | Steals | Malik Morgan 3 |
Austin Lewis 2 | Blocks | Jordan Mickey 3 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
McNeese St. | 52 | 22.6 | 3-21 | 21-26 | 5 | 34 | 6 | 8 | 13 |
Louisiana State | 79 | 38.7 | 8-25 | 23-28 | 18 | 47 | 5 | 11 | 15 |