Offensive explosion leads LSU past Arkansas 95-74

BATON ROUGE – Arkansas scored the first points of the game and led for 1:39 before LSU went on a 10-0 run that was the start of a dominating 95-74 Southeastern Conference men’s basketball victory for the Tigers Saturday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

The Tigers shot over 50 percent from the field (29-of-53, 54.7 percent) and from three-point range (12-of-23, 52.2%) and added 25-of-28 free throws (89.3%) to never led the Razorbacks get into the contest.

LSU is now 12-9 overall and 4-4 in the league, while Arkansas falls to 11-11 and 2-7 in SEC play.

LSU tied the game on a Jalen Reed layup and then Trey Hannibal, getting his first start of the season, hit a layup, Mike Williams III off an Arkansas turnover got a three-pointer and Will Baker, off another Razorback turnover, made a three to make it a 10-2 LSU lead with 15:25 to go in the first half.

It was the start of the good shooting from deep for the Tigers as Baker made 4-of-5 from distance and Williams 4-of-6 outside the arc.

The LSU lead reached double figures for good at 17-7 on a Jordan Wright free throw and the first half advantage reached 21 points before Arkansas scored the final six points to go to the break with LSU up, 45-30.

In that opening 20 minutes, LSU made 15-of-24 field goals (62.5%) and 7-of-12 from distance.

Out of the dressing room, LSU made sure no comeback was coming as Baker got a layup and a free throw, Reed put in a driving layup and got fouled for a free throw and Williams hit another of his three-pointers to give LSU a 9-0 run to push the LSU lead to 54-30 with 17:20 to play.

The lead reached as much as 28 in the final two minutes before the Tiger bench was cleared and Arkansas was able to get some points to cut it to the final margin.

The win tied the second-largest LSU margin of victory in the 78-game series history versus Arkansas. Also, LSU made double figure three-pointers for a school record fifth consecutive game.

Four Tigers were in double figures with Baker finishing with 25 points, his 11th career game of 20 points or more. Jalen Cook played a solid 21 minutes off the bench with 20 points on 5-of-8 shooting with three treys and 7-of-7 at the free throw line. Williams and Jordan Wright both finished with 13 points.

Wright, who also had six assists, kept alive his now 18-game double figure scoring streak as he scored his first 10 points all at the free throw line (making 10-of-11) before making a late three pointer.

Hannibal finished with six points, six rebounds, four assists and no turnovers as the Tigers only turned the ball over 11 times.

Arkansas had 12 turnovers but LSU capitalized with 19 points off turnovers.

The Razorbacks shot 43.6 percent for the game (24-of-55) and was 3-of-13 from distance (23.1%). Arkansas was 23-of-33 from the line.

Tramon Mark led Arkansas with 20 points, while Jalen Graham added 18 and Makhi Mitchell scored 10.

The Tigers are on the road in the midweek against Tennessee in Knoxville (6 p.m. CT) before returning home next Saturday for another 11 a.m. game against Alabama.

*LSU press release