LSU sputters at start, still routs Northwestern State

Field Level Media|published: Fri 29th November, 22:17 2024

NCAA Basketball: Northwestern State at Louisiana State

Nov 29, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers guard Jordan Sears (1) dribbles against Northwestern State Demons guard Micah Thomas (5) during the first half at Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Jordan Sears scored 18 points and LSU overcame a difficult first half to run away from Northwestern State in a 77-53 nonconference victory on 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 finished with 11 points each, 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 ice 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 expanded 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 increased the 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 during the first 4 1/2 minutes. The score was tied twice more before Sanders made a tie-breaking 3-pointer.

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