Harrell shot 6-of-9 from the field to score 15 of his points in the first half. The Tigers, who went 15-for-19 from the free-throw line in the first half, led 37-29 at the break.

T.J. Carpenter and Jeremy Smith scored nine points apiece for Nicholls State, which shot 33.9 percent from the floor and hit just 10-of-22 free throws. Dantrell Thomas and Cade Towers each scored eight points.

Auburn won the rebounding battle 39-34 and had seven blocked shots to the Colonels' one. The Tigers used a 14-2 second-half run to build their lead to 68-41.

The Tigers shot 47.8 percent from the field. Auburn finished 28-of-41 from the foul line.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Auburn's Tony Barbee is 7-1 in season openers as a head coach, including a 3-1 mark with the Tigers. . . . The teams met for the first time in 1993, a 79-76 Nicholls State win, but Auburn has won the last five matchups. . . . Nicholls State is 2-45 all-time against teams from the SEC.