Storm Warren had his second double-double in as many games as LSU defeated Indiana State 56-45 on Monday night.
Warren had 14 points and 12 rebounds as the Tigers (2-0) advanced to a second round of the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Tipoff against Western Kentucky, which beat Wisconsin-Milwaukee 69-65. Warren had 15 points and 12 rebounds in the season opener against Louisiana-Monroe on Friday.
Bo Spencer and Dennis Harris each had 10 points for LSU. Tasmin Mitchell, who scored eight points, grabbed 14 rebounds - one off his career high.
Dwayne Lathan led the Sycamores (1-1) with 12 points.
Indiana State, which trailed by five points at half, stayed within striking distance of the Tigers during the first few minutes after halftime.
Rashad Reed made one of two foul shots to cut LSU's lead to 30-26 just 5 minutes into the second half.
LSU then went on a 14-5 run to take its largest lead of the game. Baskets by Eddie Ludwig and Spencer, and two foul shots by Chris Bass, gave the Tigers their first double-digit lead.
Lathan's 3-pointer put the Indiana State deficit at seven points with less than 10 minutes remaining. Consecutive baskets by Warren, Harris and Zach Kinsley completed the run, which gave LSU a 44-31 advantage. Indiana State came no closer than six points the rest of the way.
Despite missing 14 of its first 15 field-goal attempts, LSU managed to take a five-point lead into halftime. The Tigers shot just 29 percent in the first half, but Indiana State had the same shooting percentage from the field.
The Sycamores scored the first six points on two free throws by Jake Kelly and field goals by Kelly and Koang Doluony. LSU's first points came on Warren's two free throws with 14:57 left in the half.
After missing seven shots, the Tigers got their first basket on a putback by Ludwig with 13:27 remaining. LSU took its first lead at 10-8 on a field goal by Warren with 9 minutes left in the opening half.
The Tigers moved ahead on an 8-0 run in the latter stages of the half. Warren's basket started the outburst. Spencer fed Harris for a basket and made a layup. A field goal by Mitchell gave LSU a 20-14 lead.
LSU never trailed in the second half.
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