Shavon Coleman scored 25 points - 23 in the first half - as LSU defeated McNeese State 73-48 Tuesday night in a non-conference game.
Coleman was in the starting lineup due to Johnny O'Bryant's calf injury. Coleman was 10-of-15 from the field in the opening 20 minutes. He grabbed 10 rebounds and missed his only field goal attempt of the second half.
No one else scored in double figures for the Tigers (2-0), who never trailed. Kevin Hardy led McNeese (1-1) with 18 points. The Cowboys made only 30 percent (16-of-54) of their field goal attempts.
LSU took a 38-22 lead into halftime on the strength of Coleman's offensive work. Working inside during the first eight minutes, Coleman made five baskets to help the Tigers go ahead 17-9. McNeese cut the lead to four points at 20-16 on a three-point play by Hardy with 7:48 left in the half.
