Baton Rouge, LA -- (Sports Network) - Garrett Temple, Darnell Lazare and Glen Davis each scored 16 points, as seventh-ranked LSU opened its season with a 96-42 rout of Nicholls State.

Lazare also had 10 rebounds and Tasmin Mitchell tallied 14 points for the Tigers (1-0), who return many key contributors from last season's Final Four squad. They started the season strong from long distance, going 11-of-19 from three-point range. LSU also made 23-of-26 free throws.

Despite the convincing win, LSU coach John Brady knows his team has plenty to improve on.

"We turned the ball over too much against their zone defense," Brady said. "I think it is because we rushed a little bit offensively."

Nicholls State has already played five games this season, including three as part of the Basketball Travelers Classic. Adonis Gray finished with 10 points for the Colonels (0-5), who shot just 20.6 percent (13-of-63) from the floor.

"I don't have an explanation for why we shot it so poorly, but the fact that we got the looks we got in the spots that we got them is what we wanted to do," Nicholls State coach J.P. Piper said. "We just didn't make them, and we've got to get to a point where we can consistently count on making some of those. And I think the outside opens up the inside for us. It's kind of the approach."

Conversely, the Tigers finished at 58.5 percent from the field, and LSU dominated on the boards to a 49-27 count.

LSU never trailed, scoring the first five points, on the way to a huge 44-18 lead at the half. The Tigers ended the half on a 24-5 spurt, including 15 straight points in one stretch.

Lazare's layup early in the second half boosted the lead to 52-18 and Davis hit three free throws for a 40-point bulge with 15 minutes left.

Game Notes

Last season, the Tigers won the SEC Championship and reached the Final Four for the first time in 20 years... LSU has won all 13 of its meetings with Nicholls State, including a 104-57 romp in last season's matchup.