LSU ends skid with easy victory over Arkansas

Will Baker scored 25 points and hot-shooting LSU dominated Arkansas 95-74 on Saturday afternoon in Baton Rouge, La.

Baker made 9 of 11 field-goal attempts, including 4 of 5 3-pointers, and the Tigers (12-9, 4-4 SEC) made 12 of 23 3-pointers as a team, while the Razorbacks (11-11, 2-7) made just 3 of 13.

LSU shot 54.7 percent from the floor and finished with its most points and largest margin of victory in an SEC game this season. The Tigers ended a three-game losing streak, bouncing back strong from a 109-88 loss at Alabama last Saturday.

Jalen Cook, coming off the bench for just the second time this season, scored 20 points. Jordan Wright had 13 points, six rebounds and six assists and Mike Williams III scored 13 points before fouling out.

Tramon Mark scored 20, Jalen Graham had 18 and Makhi Mitchell added 10 to lead Arkansas.

Baker made a 3-pointer to start the second-half scoring, Jalen Reed followed with a three-point play and Williams made a 3-pointer to give LSU a 54-30 lead with 17:20 remaining.

Graham made a layup for Arkansas' first points after more than three minutes of the second half and he followed with a jumper. Baker answered with a 3-pointer to put LSU up 57-34 and the Tigers maintained a comfortable margin the rest of the way.

Arkansas scored the first two points of the game for its only lead as LSU responded with a 10-0 run.

Keyon Menifield Jr. ended the run by converting a three-point play, but the Tigers increased the lead to 20-7 after making eight consecutive shots.

Williams made two 3-pointers and LSU made six of its first seven attempts from beyond the arc and expanded the lead to 30-14.

Graham made two baskets and the Razorbacks trimmed the lead to 12. Baker answered with a jumper that started a 9-0 run that left the Tigers with their biggest lead of the half at 21 points.

Arkansas scored the final six points to cut the lead to 45-30 at halftime.