Ben Simmons, fellow freshman Antonio Blakeney tally double-doubles in LSU debuts

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Antonio Blakeney had 22 points and 11 rebounds, and fellow freshman Ben Simmons added 11 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in No. 19 LSU's 81-70 victory over McNeese State on Friday night in the opener for both teams.

Brandon Sampson, the third member of the Tigers' highly rated freshman class, had 18 points.

Jamaya Burr led McNeese State with 18 points, and Craig McFerrin had 12 points and 13 rebounds.

LSU scored 27 straight points in an 8 1/2-minute stretch that spanned halftime. The Tigers led for nearly the entire first half, but didn't take a double-digit advantage until Tim Quarterman, who had 11 points, made two free throws with 5:57 left to make it 29-19.

McNeese cut it to 34-27 on Burr's two free throws with 2:27 left in the first half. LSU closed the half on a 7-0 run to establish its largest lead at 41-27. Blakeney made a field goal and three of four free throws, while Simmons finished the scoring with a dunk.

The Tigers made sure there was no comeback by the Cowboys as they scored the first 20 points after halftime. Elbert Robinson started the run with two baskets. LSU got four 3-pointers in that time — three by Sampson and one by Quarterman. Two foul shots by Simmons put the Tigers ahead 61-27.

When LSU had substitutes in the game over the final few minutes, McNeese reduced its deficit to the final margin of 11 points.

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