Reserve Michael Ruzic scored 18 points to lead four LSU players in double figures and the Tigers continued their early-season dominance in a 90-50 victory against Louisiana Tech on Monday in Baton Rouge, La.
Abdi Bashir Jr. came off the bench for 16 points, Mo Dioubate had 15 before fouling out and Donovan Dent scored 12 for LSU (3-0), which defeated LSU New Orleans 100-57 and Texas Southern 92-51 in its first two games.
Jaylen Fenner scored 12 points to lead the Bulldogs (2-1), who had set a home arena record for fewest points allowed in a 76-17 victory against Division II Arkansas-Monticello on Thursday.
LSU needed just 8:08 to surpass Arkansas-Monticello’s point total on its way to a 47-20 halftime cushion.
The Tigers started the second half by picking up where they left off in the first half. They scored the first 11 points for a 38-point lead as they held the Bulldogs scoreless for the first 3 1/2 minutes. LSU led by as much as 55.
Iyran Francis Jr. scored on a put-back for the game’s first points, giving Louisiana Tech its only lead of the game. LSU scored the next seven points.
Braylon Wenger ended that run by making two free throws, but the Bulldogs went cold from the field. The Tigers used a 9-0 run to open a 16-4 lead before Fenner made two free throws. Deven Bates ended Louisiana Tech’s 6 1/2-minute field-goal drought to pull the visitors within eight points.
LSU followed with a 7-0 run, and after the Bulldogs’ Adam Boyd made a jumper, the Tigers had a 10-0 run to expand the lead to 33-10. LSU pushed the gap to 28 points before holding a 47-20 halftime edge.
The Tigers shot 58.3% and the Bulldogs hit 30.4% from the floor in the first half. Louisiana Tech missed all seven of its 3-point attempts before the break. LSU had advantages of 16-2 on points off turnovers and 14-0 on fastbreak points.
Overall on the night, LSU outshot Louisiana Tech 56.4% to 31.6% and produced a 38-10 scoring edge off turnovers and a 21-2 edge on fastbreak scoring.