Freshmen Ralston Turner and Andre Stringer each scored 21 points as LSU defeated Northwestern State 87-78 in the opener for both teams Friday night.
Turner made 6 of his 12 shots from the field, including 3 of 6 on 3-pointers. Stringer, who came off the bench, knocked down four 3-pointers and was 7 of 10 at the foul line.
Aaron Dotson scored a career-high 17 points, while Malcolm White added 12 for LSU. Will Pratt equaled his career-high with 29 points for the Demons.
After a 25-5 run put Northwestern State ahead 38-34 with 3:01 until halftime, the Tigers knocked down 3-pointers on their next three possessions.
A 3-pointer by Turner gave the Tigers the lead for good in the second half. Following a field goal by Louis Ellis, Stringer scored seven consecutive points on a 3-pointer, a field goal and two free throws. That run put LSU on top 63-55 with 11:53 to play.
