Newcomer Michael Nwoko scores 22 as LSU surges past New Orleans

Michael Nwoko scored 22 points, Marquel Sutton and Pablo Tamba each posted double-doubles and LSU dominated the start of both halves in a 93-58 victory against New Orleans on Monday night in Baton Rouge, La.

Sutton finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds, Tamba had 10 points and 10 rebounds and reserve Jalen Reed scored 15 for the Tigers (2-0), who opened the game on a 23-9 run and began the second half on a 17-3 run.

Jakevion Buckley scored 12 points and Coleton Benson added 10 points to lead the Privateers (2-1), who never led in the game and made just 30% of their shots from the floor.

LSU had significant advantages in rebounding (56-36), points in the paint (42-28) and bench points (35-12).

Reed scored seven points, Tamba added six points and LSU's 17-3 run to start the second half produced a 61-35 lead after the Privateers had fought back after the slow start to the first half.

But New Orleans didn't make a similar push in the second half and the Tigers expanded the lead to as many as 36 points.

The Privateers made just one field goal in the first 4:09 and four Tigers scored as they raced to a 17-7 lead. Churchill Abass made New Orleans' first two field goals, but the lead grew to 23-9 on a 3-pointer by Rashad King.

After the Privateers crept within 10 points, Sutton made a 3-pointer and Robert Miller III added a free throw to give LSU a 27-13 lead midway through the half.

Abass made a dunk, Kedrick Osby hit a 3-pointer and Benson added two free throws to get New Orleans within 27-20. But Nwoko made a dunk to end the run and added six more points to push the lead to 35-22.

UNO responded again as Buckley scored five points and Enzo Boudouma added a 3-pointer, pulling the Privateers to within 35-30 in the final stages of the first half. But the hosts answered as Reed scored five points and Miller tallied four and the Tigers increased the lead to 44-32 at halftime.

--Field Level Media