Adam Miller scored 26 points as host LSU defeated Arkansas State 61-52 on Saturday night in Baton Rouge, La.
KJ Williams added 15 points and Justice Hill had 11 for the Tigers (2-0).
Omar El-Sheikh scored 17 points to lead the Red Wolves (1-1) as none of his eight teammates that played managed to reach double figures.
LSU made 8 of 20 3-pointers and Arkansas State sunk just 5 of 25.
Williams started the second-half scoring with a basket that gave LSU a 33-26 lead, but Arkansas State pulled within three points on a layup by Avery Felts.
Miller and Williams both made a 3-pointer as the Tigers extended the lead to 43-32.
The Red Wolves closed within 45-43 after back-to-back layups by Julian Lual and Felts.
Williams answered with a basket and Miller added a 3-pointer, two free throws and a layup before Williams followed with a dunk. The 11-0 run gave the Tigers a 54-43 edge as Arkansas State made just one field goal in a span of seven minutes, 40 seconds.
Markise Davis ended the Red Wolves’ drought by making a 3-pointer and Izaiyah Nelson added a three-point play to trim the lead to 56-49 with 1:41 left.
Williams answered with a 3-pointer and Davis answered with one of his own to reduce the margin to seven again with 1:03 left.
But Arkansas State didn’t score again and Trae Hannibal completed the scoring for LSU by making two free throws with 35 seconds left.
LSU scored the first six points of the game on 3-pointers by Williams and Miller.
Arkansas State took its first lead at 10-9 when Davis made a 3-pointer.
The Tigers took their biggest lead of the half at 27-18 as Miller made two 3-pointers.
El-Sheikh’s jumper pulled the Red Wolves within three before Hill’s jumper gave LSU a 31-26 halftime lead.
–Field Level Media
