Auburn 68, LSU 63: Allen Payne scored 15 points as host Auburn put together a big second-half run to win the SEC opener for both teams.

LSU led by four before Auburn (7-7, 1-0 SEC) scored 16 of the next 18 points – the last five from Noel Johnson – to take a 49-39 lead with 9:29 remaining. Charles Carmouche’s 3-pointer at the final buzzer brought LSU as close as it got the rest of the way.

Freshman Shaquille Johnson chipped in with 11 points and nine rebounds for Auburn, which shot 53.8 percent in the second half. Frankie Sullivan registered 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting from the field.

Carmouche led LSU (9-3, 0-1) with 15 points and seven assists. Anthony Hickey and Andre Stringer each added 13 points, while leading scorer Shavon Coleman was held to four points and nine rebounds.

Auburn scored the first seven points – all by Payne – and led by as many as eight before LSU scored 17 of the final 25 points for a 28-27 lead at intermission. Payne had 11 points and Stringer led LSU with eight in the opening 20 minutes.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Auburn has won six of the last eight meetings, but LSU still leads the series 82-64. … LSU made just four of its 10 free-throw attempts, while Auburn was 12-of-22 from the charity stripe. … LSU plays Auburn just once in the regular season for the first time since the 1965-66 season, due to the new 18-game schedule in the 14-team league.