Martin leads LSU over McNeese State 83-72

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) Jarell Martin scored a career-high 26 points and LSU defeated McNeese State 83-72 on Saturday night.

Martin made nine of his 15 field goal attempts and grabbed 10 rebounds. Brian Bridgewater scored a career-high 16 points, Tim Quarterman added 14 and Josh Gray had 13 for the Tigers (4-2). LSU's top scorer Jordan Mickey did not play due to injury.

Desharick Guidry scored 17 points and matched a career-best with 14 rebounds to lead McNeese State (2-2). Jamaya Burr had 13 points and five assists, while Kevin Hardy finished with 12 points for the Cowboys.

McNeese State pulled within three points, 60-57, on a basket by Hardy with 11:42 remaining. LSU finally put the Cowboys away by scoring the next 13 points to make it 73-57 with 7:11 left. Gray scored six points, while Bridgewater contributed a three-point play and another field goal during the run.

Martin scored the first seven points as LSU jumped out to an early 14-2 lead. Jayln Patterson hit a 3 to stretch the Tigers' lead to 35-23 with 6:13 left in the first half.

McNeese State closed the half on a 16-4 run, with Burr scoring seven points, to tie it at 39 at the break. Martin scored the Tigers' only points on two field goals.

Hardy and Keelan Garrett hit 3-pointers to give McNeese State a 45-43 lead with 18:45 to play. LSU responded with a 12-2 run. Martin made two free throws and a field goal during the stretch. Consecutive baskets by Bridgewater put the Tigers up 55-47 with 14:28 remaining.

TIP INS:

LSU: The Tigers have won all 23 games in the all-time series against McNeese State.

McNeese State: The Cowboys played just one Division I team in their first three games, losing to Baylor 80-39.

UP NEXT:

LSU hosts Massachusetts on Tuesday.

McNeese hosts Southern-New Orleans on Wednesday.