BATON ROUGE, La. (Interstat) — In a commanding season-opening performance, the LSU Tigers overwhelmed the visiting Tarleton State Texans 96 to 60 in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Wednesday night at a spirited Maravich Assembly Center.

A crowd of 6,252 watched as the Tigers, playing their first game of the season, showcased a balanced and explosive offensive attack alongside a stifling defense that the Texans struggled to solve from the opening tip. The victory improved LSU’s record to 1-0, while Tarleton State fell to 0-2.

The game was effectively decided in the first half, as LSU built a substantial lead and never looked back. The Tigers scored 47 points before halftime while holding the Texans to 31, establishing a 16-point cushion. The second half was more of the same, with LSU adding 49 points to Tarleton State’s 29 to seal the decisive victory.

LSU’s offense was a model of efficiency and distribution. Max Mackinnon led all scorers with 19 points, adding five assists in 26 minutes of action. The Tigers’ floor general, Dedan Thomas Jr., orchestrated the offense masterfully, finishing with 16 points and a game-high eight assists.

The Tigers’ frontcourt dominance was a key factor in the win. Jalen Reed contributed 11 points and six rebounds, while Robert Miller III posted a strong line of 10 points, six rebounds, and a block. Michael Nwoko was a force defensively in the paint, pulling down eight rebounds and recording three blocks to go with his 11 points. Marquel Sutton provided a significant spark off the bench, chipping in 13 points.

For Tarleton State, Kade Douglas, a 6-foot guard from Lancaster, Texas, was a bright spot, leading his team with 19 points. Freddy Hicks, who played a team-high 37 minutes, finished with 12 points and five rebounds. Matyas Vrabel, the 6-foot-10 forward from Ostrava, Czech Republic, added 10 points and five rebounds.

The game’s opening sequence set the tone. After Tarleton State’s Chris Mpaka scored the first basket, LSU quickly responded with a layup and a free throw from Thomas. The Tigers then embarked on a run, fueled by their defensive pressure and ball movement. An early three-pointer from Mackinnon, assisted by Thomas, and another soon after, pushed the LSU lead to 9-3, forcing an early Texans timeout.

LSU continued to extend its advantage throughout the half. The Tigers’ ball movement was crisp, leading to easy baskets inside and open looks from the perimeter. A dunk from Robert Miller and a three-pointer from Marquel Sutton highlighted an offensive display that saw LSU’s lead balloon. By the time the first half ended with a Sutton layup, the Tigers held a comfortable 47-31 lead.

Any hope of a Texans comeback was quickly extinguished in the second half as LSU methodically increased its lead. The Tigers’ defense remained relentless, creating turnovers and converting them into points on the other end. The margin grew steadily throughout the period, with LSU’s depth and talent proving too much for the visitors.

The Tigers’ next contest is at home against New Orleans on Monday. Tarleton State, still in search of its first win, will return to Texas to host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday.

Pregame projections heavily favored LSU, which was installed as an 18.5-point favorite. The combined score of 156 points fell under the posted over/under line of 146.5. According to Interstat’s ELO system, the Tigers entered the game with an 88.30 percent probability to win.