Shavon Coleman scored 22 points as LSU held off Northwestern State 102-95 in a nonconference game Tuesday.
Coleman was one of four Tigers in double figures. Anthony Hickey had a career-high 21 points, Charles Carmouche had 19 points and Johnny O'Bryant had 13.
James Hulbin was the leading scorer for the Demons (3-1) with a season-high 29 points. Northwestern State's top scorer DeQuan Hicks came off the bench and had a season-high 28 points. Jalan West added 14 points for the Demons.
The Tigers, who built a 21-point lead eight minutes into the second half, watched the Demons cut their deficit to single digits in the final four minutes. A basket by Hulbin with 2:47 to play pulled Northwestern State to 88-82.
After Carmouche made two foul shots, back-to-back baskets by Hicks reduced LSU's lead to 90-86 with 1:55 remaining, but the Demons never made it a one-possession game.
A basket by Eddie Ludwig and two free throws by Hickey and Carmouche left the Tigers in front 96-89 with 44 seconds to play. Northwestern State trailed by four points again at 97-93 when Shamir Davis made two free throws with 17 seconds remaining.
LSU finally clinched the victory when Ludwig made two free throws and Carmouche sank 3 of 4 foul shots in the final 15 seconds.
After a slow start, LSU closed the first half on a 24-6 run to take a comfortable 14-point lead. The Tigers missed eight of their first 10 field-goal attempts as they fell behind Northwestern State in the early minutes.
LSU took its first lead at 24-23 on a 3-pointer by Coleman with 8:37 remaining in the half. Sparked by Hicks' six points, the Demons moved ahead 32-28 with just under five minutes before halftime.
The Tigers then went on their run with Hickey and Andre Stringer leading the way. Consecutive 3-pointers by Hickey put LSU in front for good at 36-33. Two 3-pointers by Stringer and a couple of put-back baskets by Andrew Del Piero gave the Tigers a 46-35 advantage.
Hickey and Stringer combined for six more points. Hickey made a basket and two foul shots, while Stringer made a runner with one second remaining to give LSU a 52-38 halftime lead. After their slow shooting start, the Tigers ended up making 50 percent (19 of 38) of their first-half field goal attempts.
With Malik Morgan making two field goals, the Tigers pushed their lead to 19 points at 64-45 on a 3-pointer by Coleman five minutes into the second half.
The Demons, who trailed by as many as 21 points, made things interesting when they pulled within 11 points at 80-69 with 6:05 remaining. O'Bryant answered with a three-point play for LSU. Northwestern State cut the Tigers' lead to 11 points on two more occasions in the next two minutes.
With LSU missing six consecutive foul shots, the Demons reduced their deficit to single digits at 86-77 on a basket by Hicks with 3:58 remaining. Northwestern State would pull within four points, but get no closer in the final minutes.
