LSU forward Darius Days (22) knocks the ball loose from Louisiana Tech forward Oliver Powell (35) as LSU's Kavell Bigby-Williams, right, assists with pressure in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Nov. 16, 2018, in Baton Rouge, La. LSU won 74-67. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
Louisiana Tech forward Anthony Duruji (10) puts the ball up for two points as LSU forward Darius Days (22) defends in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Nov. 16, 2018, in Baton Rouge, La. LSU won 74-67. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
LSU forward Emmitt Williams (24) and Louisiana Tech guard Amorie Archibald (3) hit the floor chasing after a loose ball in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Nov. 16, 2018, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
LSU forward Kavell Bigby-Williams (11) gets a hand on the ball to block the shot of Louisiana Tech guard Derric Jean (1) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Nov. 16, 2018, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
LSU forward Emmitt Williams, left, celebrates with teammate Skylar Mays (4) late in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Nov. 16, 2018, in Baton Rouge, La. LSU won 74-67. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
LSU forward Darius Days (22) knocks the ball loose from Louisiana Tech forward Oliver Powell (35) as LSU's Kavell Bigby-Williams, right, assists with pressure in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Nov. 16, 2018, in Baton Rouge, La. LSU won 74-67. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
LSU guard Ja'vonte Smart (1) shoots for 3 of his 16 points in the game during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Louisiana Tech, Friday, Nov. 16, 2018, in Baton Rouge, La. LSU won 74-67. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
Louisiana Tech forward Anthony Duruji (10) puts the ball up for two points as LSU forward Darius Days (22) defends in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Nov. 16, 2018, in Baton Rouge, La. LSU won 74-67. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
LSU head coach Will Wade shouts instructions to his players in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Louisiana Tech, Friday, Nov. 16, 2018, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
Louisiana Tech head coach Eric Konkol has a word with the referee after a call in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against LSU, Friday, Nov. 16, 2018, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
LSU forward Emmitt Williams (24) and Louisiana Tech guard Amorie Archibald (3) hit the floor chasing after a loose ball in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Nov. 16, 2018, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
LSU forward Kavell Bigby-Williams (11) gets a hand on the ball to block the shot of Louisiana Tech guard Derric Jean (1) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Nov. 16, 2018, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) Ja'vonte Smart scored 16 points, and his late 3-pointer put No. 22 LSU ahead for good in a back-and-forth 74-67 victory over Louisiana Tech on Friday night.
The Bulldogs tied it at 62 on a jumper by Daquan Bracey with 2:29 remaining, but Smart hit his 3 on the next possession for the Tigers (4-0). LSU increased its lead to eight points on a layup by Kavell Bigby-Williams and three free throws by Skylar Mays.
Tremont Waters had 14 points for LSU, and Mays and Daryl Edwards each scored 12.
Anthony Duruji led the Bulldogs (3-1) with 22 points. Sophomore Exavian Christon matched his career high with 15 points and Amorie Archibald had 10.
Archibald's 3-pointer brought Louisiana Tech within 70-65 with 31 seconds remaining, but Waters and Edwards each hit a pair of free throws to seal the victory.
LSU led by as many as nine points in the first half, but Louisiana Tech closed within 36-33 at the break.
The Bulldogs took an eight-point lead with 12:39 remaining in the game. Duruji had nine points as Louisiana Tech outscored LSU 21-10 to start the second half. The Tigers responded with a 16-4 run to go ahead 62-58. Waters had five points during that stretch.
BIG PICTURE
LSU: The Tigers were outrebounded and shot poorly from the free throw line and from 3-point range, but they found a way to improve to 4-0 for the first time in six seasons.
Louisiana Tech: The Bulldogs had their chance of coming away with a second impressive road victory in the first two weeks of the season. Louisiana Tech, which won at Wichita State in its season opener, scored only nine points in the final eight-plus minutes.
UP NEXT
LSU will play away from home for the first time when it meets Charleston in a first-round game of the Advocare Invitational Tournament in Orlando, Florida, on Thursday.
Louisiana Tech returns home to play NAIA member Tougaloo on Tuesday.
___
More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
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