Louisiana State 73, McNeese State 48: Shavon Coleman scored 25 points in his first career start as the Tigers cruised past the Cowboys.

Coleman, who in his first season at Louisiana State after playing the last two at Howard College, shot 10-for-16 from the floor. He also recorded a team-high 10 rebounds and blocked two shots for the Tigers (2-0).

Kevin Hardy scored 18 points to lead McNeese State (1-1). Guard Dontae Cannon, who was the team’s second-leading scorer last season, was held to eight points.

Coleman scored 12 of his 23 first-half points during an 18-4 run that gave LSU a 38-10 lead. McNeese State, which went 0-for-12 from 3-point range, never climbed within 14 points of the Tigers.

Coleman was playing in place of Johnny O’Bryant, who suffered a calf injury midway through the first half of Friday’s season-opening victory against UC Santa Barbara.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Coleman’s 23 points in the first half were the most by an LSU player in a half since Tasmin Mitchell had 23 against Auburn in 2010. … Austin Lewis, a 6-8 freshman forward for McNeese State, returned after sitting out Friday’s season-opening victory against Louisiana College. He came off the bench to score four points in his college debut. … Andrew Del Piero, a 7-foot-3 senior center for LSU who played tuba in the school’s band before walking on last season, appeared in his fifth career game for the Tigers. He scored a career-high seven points.