Tari Eason scored a game-high 20 points and Darius Days logged a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds as LSU remained undefeated with a 66-51 win over Ohio University Wednesday night in Baton Rouge, La.
The Tigers (8-0) struggled in some aspects, with 17 turnovers and a 4-of-18 shooting effort from 3-point range. But LSU's defense was on point as the Tigers racked up seven blocks, 11 steals and forced the Bobcats (5-2) into just 26.5 percent shooting.
Ben Vander Plas had 12 points and seven rebounds for Ohio, while Jason Carter added 10 points and nine rebounds and Mark Sears chipped in 11 points.
Ohio hit 12 3-pointers, but struggled inside the arc where it was just 6 of 32 (18.8 percent).
Vander Plas hit four 3-pointers in six minutes as part of a 15-2 run for the Bobcats to open the second half. His fourth triple gave Ohio its first tie of the night at 37-37 with 14:07 remaining.
But LSU answered with a 10-2 run over the next six minutes, finished by Eason's layup. It ignited an extended 21-7 run and a 58-44 lead with 3:29 left.
LSU never trailed, and blitzed the Bobcats with a 9-0 run in the game's first three minutes capped by Murray's fast-break dunk.
The Tigers upped the lead to 14-0- before Ohio scored on Carter's putback at the 11:24 mark. LSU led by as many as 18 points, at 29-11 with 5:05 left in the half on Days' bucket inside.
Ohio hit three straight 3-pointers in a 90-second span late in the half to pull to within 29-20 but Days scored five points in the final 30 seconds to forge a 34-22 lead at the half.
Days had nine points and six rebounds to lead the Tigers in the half, while Sears netted nine points to pace the Bobcats.
--Field Level Media
Ohio | Louisiana State | |
Ben Vander Plas 12 | Scoring | Tari Eason 20 |
Jason Carter 3 | Assists | Eric Gaines 5 |
Jason Carter 9 | Rebounds | Darius Days 13 |
Jason Carter 1 | Free Throws Made | Tari Eason 8 |
Ben Roderick 4 | Steals | Tari Eason 5 |
Jason Carter 1 | Blocks | Tari Eason 3 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Ohio | 51 | 26.5 | 12-36 | 3-6 | 10 | 31 | 3 | 11 | 12 |
Louisiana State | 66 | 46.9 | 4-18 | 16-19 | 10 | 39 | 7 | 11 | 17 |