LSU 92, Mississippi State 81: Jarell Martin scored a career-high 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds as the Tigers claimed an SEC victory over the visiting Bulldogs.

Martin made 8-of-11 from the field and fellow freshman Jordan Mickey contributed 19 points and two blocks, but had seven of the 16 turnovers for the Tigers (16-9, 7-6). Shavon Coleman supplied 18 points and four steals and Andrew Stringer (14) and Anthony Hickey (13) also reached double figures as the Tigers improved to 12-2 at home.

Craig Sword did all he could in setting a career high at LSU for the second straight year, but he didn't get much help. He made 11-of-16 field goals and 10-of-14 free throws to finish with 33 points, and Gavin Ware added 10 points and 11 rebounds as the Bulldogs (13-13, 3-10) dropped their eighth straight game.

The Tigers looked as if they would run away with the game early on, leading 14-0 and 24-4 before the Bulldogs put together a run to get back into it. Sword scored eight straight points and I.J. Ready had six straight to key a 16-2 run, but the Tigers stopped the bleeding with back-to-back 3-pointers by Hickey en route to a 42-31 halftime advantage.

The Bulldogs closed to within seven points early in the second half on a three-point play by Sword, but after Colin Borchert was whistled for a foul and a technical foul, the Tigers hit all four free throws and Stringer made back-to-back 3-pointers to make it 59-44. Mississippi State tried to hang around but didn't have the manpower to match the likes of Mickey and Martin.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Mickey had 13 points and canned 7-of-8 free throws to lead the Tigers in the first half, while Sword made 7-of-11 from the line and had 13 for the Bulldogs. ... Sword had 25 points last season against the Tigers. ... F Johnny O'Bryant III had six points, six rebounds and five assists before fouling out late in the game for the Tigers, who finished with 17 assists.