Dedan Thomas Jr. scored 18 points and LSU produced a strong stretch in the first half and then kept Drake at safe distance the rest of the way in a 71-62 victory in the Emerald Coast Classic on Friday in Niceville, Fla.

Mike Nwoko's 14 points and Max Mackinnon's 11 points also boosted LSU (6-0), which will face DePaul, a 75-61 comeback winner against Georgia Tech in an earlier game Friday, in the final on Saturday. Drake (4-3) will oppose the Yellow Jackets in the consolation game.

Jalen Quinn's 20 points and Jaehshon Thomas' 16 points paced Drake. The Bulldogs couldn't overcome shooting woes, hitting 36.1% of their shots, including just 26.7% (8-for-30) from 3-point range. Jaehshon Thomas went 4-for-6 from beyond the arc, accounting for half of the team's successful threes.

LSU shot 46

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