Marquel Sutton had 19 points and 12 rebounds, Michael Nwoko scored 19 and LSU defeated Florida International 98-81 on Thursday night in Baton Rouge, La.
Max Mackinnon added 17 points, DJ Thomas scored 15 and Jalen Reed had 10 for the Tigers (3-0).
Corey Stephenson had 25 points and 10 rebounds and Julian Mackey added 24 points to lead the Panthers (1-2).
LSU, which used a 17-3 run at the start of the second half to seize command in a 93-58 victory against visiting New Orleans on Monday night, had a 19-5 run to start the second half and take a 62-43 lead.
Sutton made two 3-pointers, Reed had a dunk and a layup and Robert Miller III made four free throws during the spurt.
Stephenson made a 3-pointer to end a nearly five-minute scoring drought for the Panthers and moments later Ashton Williamson added a 3-pointer to get Florida International within 14 points.
Sutton scored four points during an 8-0 run that pushed the Tigers’ lead to 71-49, and they coasted.
The Panthers’ Hamed Olayinka made a dunk for the game’s first points and the score was tied at four before the Tigers never trailed again. A layup by Nwoko broke the tie and started a 9-0 run for LSU.
Zawdie Jackson made a free throw to stop the run, but Thomas made two jumpers. PJ Carter added a 3-pointer and the Tigers opened a 22-9 lead.
Stephenson made a 3-pointer and Williamson added a layup to complete a 9-2 run that pulled Florida International within 24-18 midway through the first half.
Sutton answered with two free throws before Stephenson made two free throws and a jumper to help the Panthers pull even at 26. The score was tied again before Sutton and Nwoko made consecutive layups to start a 10-0 run that gave LSU a 38-28 lead.
Ibrahim Olajuwon made a jumper to stop the run before the Tigers rebuilt the lead to 11. Stephenson scored five points to help Florida International trim the lead to 43-38 at halftime.
