WGNO

LSU overcomes slow start to outmuscle St. Bonaventure 76-61

LSU guard Cameron Thomas (24) reacts to the team's win over St. Bonaventure as he leaves the court after a first round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 20, 2021, at Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Cameron Thomas scored 27 points and Darius Days had 13 points and 11 rebounds to lead eighth-seeded LSU past ninth-seeded St. Bonaventure 76-61 and into the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Jaren Holmes led the Bonnies with 18 points. LSU took control with a 9-2 run late in the first half, extended the lead to 40-24 early in the second half and never let St. Bonaventure get close again.

The Tigers will face either top-seeded Michigan or No. 16 seed Texas Southern on Monday.