Junior point guard Dedan Thomas Jr. tossed in a game-high 22 points and LSU extended its winning streak to four games by beating visiting Southern Miss 90-62 Monday night in Baton Rouge, La.
Thomas, who was 8 of 11 from the floor, had 12 assists. He committed two turnovers in 35 minutes.
Forward Michael Nwoko also scored 22 points for the Tigers (12-1), who improved their home record to 8-0. Nwoko added six rebounds and had five of LSU’s 11 blocked shots.
Max Mackinnon finished with 15 points and was the only other LSU player who scored in double figures. The Tigers received nine points and 15 rebounds from Pablo Tamba, and nine points and 11 rebounds from Marquel Sutton.
Tylik Weeks scored a team-high 12 points for Southern Miss (7-7, 1-1 Sun Belt). Weeks, who entered the game leading Southern Miss in scoring (17.8), has scored in double figures in 12 games this season, including the last 11. He played the entire second half with four fouls.
Starting center Tegra Izay added 11 points for the Golden Eagles, who also received a nine-point performance from Curt Lewis.
Southern Miss shot 19 of 62 from the floor (30.6%), including 3 of 15 from 3-point range.
LSU’s advantage in the first half peaked at 17 points (33-16) and the Tigers had a 41-30 halftime lead.
The Tigers stretched their lead to 16 points on a Nwoko layup that made it 47-31 with 18:15 remaining in the game, but a Dylan Brumfield jumper sliced LSU’s lead to 11 with 15:32 to play. LSU responded with a 7-0 spurt and led 60-42 following two Sutton free throws with 12:23 to play.
LSU held its largest lead after two Ron Zipper free throws made it 88-59 with 1:17 left.
–Field Level Media
