Ralston Turner scored a season-high 23 points to lead LSU to a 78-66 overtime victory against McNeese State on Thursday night.
Turner scored seven of the Tigers' first 12 points in the extra period. Turner opened the overtime scoring with a field goal. After sinking a pair of foul shots, Turner knocked down a 3-pointer which put LSU ahead 72-62.
Storm Warren added a season-high 17 points for the Tigers (7-3), Andre Stringer contributed 15 points and five assists and Malcolm White had 13 points and nine rebounds.
CJ Collins matched his season-high with 15 points for the Cowboys (6-4). Stevan Martin added 14 points, while PJ Alawoya had 10. Patrick Richard, McNeese State's leading scorer at 17 points a game, finished with just six. He left the game with a shoulder injury in the final minute of regulation.
LSU forced overtime when Warren made a field goal following his offensive rebound with 24 seconds left.
Warren, who was fouled on the putback, missed his free throw attempt. McNeese State had taken a 60-58 lead on a jumper by Martin on the previous possession.
LSU scored the final seven points of the first half to take a 29-28 lead. A 3-pointer by Garrett Green started the spurt at the end of the half. Stringer made a basket and Turner sank two of three foul shots with 0.3 seconds left in the half.
McNeese State failed to score in the final 3-plus minutes of the opening half. The Cowboys went on a 13-3 run during the middle of the first half to take a six-point advantage. Alawoya sank three baskets during that time. A 3-pointer by Martin put McNeese State on top 23-17 with 8:25 left in the half.
The Tigers extended their lead in the first 9 1/2 minutes of the second half. Nearly all of the offensive production came from LSU's two starting post players - White and Warren. White had nine points, while Warren added six as the Tigers moved out in front 45-35.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Martin and Diego Kapelan enabled the Cowboys to pull within four points at 47-43 with 9 minutes remaining. McNeese State trailed by just two points at 50-48 after Mari Konate knocked down a 3-pointer and Preston David made a layup.
Two foul shots by Martin with 2:56 left reduced LSU's lead to one point at 53-52. A 3-pointer by Collins tied the score at 55. The Cowboys took a three-point lead when Kapelan made three of four foul shots.
The Tigers tied the score at 58 when Turner made three free throws with 1:10 to play.
