Antonio Blakeney scored 26 points as LSU defeated Southern Mississippi 78-61 a nonconference game Tuesday night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, La.

The Tigers, 2-0 for the fourth times in coach Johnny Jones' five seasons, will host North Florida on Friday. The Golden Eagles (1-1) host Union on Friday.

Blakeney scored 13 points in each half as LSU took a double-digit lead midway through the first half and maintained it virtually the rest of the way.

Brandon Sampson added 11 points for the Tigers, Duop Reath scored 10 and Wayde Sims had 10 off the bench.

Quinton Campbell led Southern Miss with 14 points, and Michael Ramey scored 13, and Tim Rowe had 11.

The Tigers shot 53.6 percent from the floor (30 of 56), including 56.3 percent on 3-pointers (9 of 16). The Golden Eagles shot 39.3 percent from the floor (24 of 61), including 16.7 percent on 3-pointers (4 of 24).

LSU led 37-25 at halftime, but Eddie Davis III made a 3-pointer during an 8-0 Southern Miss run to start the second half.

Sims stopped the run with a 3-pointer, and Jalyn Patterson added a 3-pointer as the Tigers quickly rebuilt the lead to 10.

LSU maintained a double-digit lead until Campbell's jumper cut the lead to 60-52 with 6:52 left.

Sampson made a layup and a dunk as the Tigers scored six straight and then coasted to the victory.

The score was tied at 13 before Blakeney made a layup that started a 19-5 run that put LSU in control late in the first half.

Blakeney finished with 13 points as the Tigers took a 37-25 halftime lead.

The Golden Eagles made just 9 of 26 first-half shots, including 3 of 15 3-point tries.

LSU continued a strong defensive effort that began in the second half of a 91-69 season-opening victory against Wofford last Saturday. After allowing Wofford to shoot 53.1 percent of in the first half, the Tigers held the Terriers to 21.2 percent in the second half.