LSU 93, Gardner-Webb 82: Jarell Martin posted 21 points and 11 rebounds as the host Tigers downed the Runnin’ Bulldogs.

Jordan Mickey added 21 points while Keith Hornsby contributed 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals for LSU (1-0), which overcame 18 turnovers and outrebounded Gardner-Webb 47-28. Josh Gray poured in 18 points as the Tigers’ starters combined to go 31-for-54 from the field.

All-Big South second-team selection Jerome Hill tallied a game-high 25 points for Gardner-Webb (0-1), which collected 12 steals - led by three apiece from Jarvis Davis and Tyler Strange. Tyrell Nelson had 16 points while Strange finished with 14 points and seven assists to lead a total of four Bulldogs in double figures.

LSU led by as much as 10 points in the early going before Gardner-Webb's Dylan Poston drained a 3-pointer to cap a 21-10 surge and the teams traded the lead for the remainder of the first half. Martin scored the first five points of the second half and Hornsby converted four consecutive field-goal attempts, including a 3-pointer that forced a Gardner-Webb timeout and left the Tigers with a 58-49 lead with 15:21 to go.

Poston responded with a 3-pointer of his own before Mickey carried LSU with six straight field goals and the Tigers stretched the margin to as much as 80-64 with 4 ½ minutes left following consecutive layups from Gray. Davis, who finished with 11 points, caught fire down the stretch with three straight 3-pointers and Strange hit a triple with 44 seconds left to trim the deficit to 87-82, but Gray scored the Tigers’ final five points to preserve the victory.

GAME NOTEBOOK: LSU improved to 15-3 under coach Johnny Jones when scoring at least 80 points. … Mickey, who became only the second player in school history and 11th player in SEC history to record at least 100 blocks in a season last year, finished without a rejection. … The Tigers improved to 8-1 under Jones when grabbing at least 45 rebounds.