Dec. 30, 2007

Box Score

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Junior Ryan Bathie had a season best 22 points while true freshman Anatoly Bose established a new career high with 21 as Nicholls defeated Kennesaw State 84-68 in their final game in the Duel in the Desert Tournament on Sunday.

Also scoring in double-digits in the win besides Bathie and Bose were freshman Dominic Friend with 13 and junior Justin Payne with 10. Friend also had a career best eight rebounds in the victory. Junior Gil Verner flirted with crossing the 10-point mark, but finished with nine. The Owls had three players in double-digits with Ronell Wooten and Kelvin McConnell accounting for 19 each. Shaun Stegall finished with 10 to round out Kennesaw State's double-digit scorers.

Nicholls shot 54.9 percent (28-of-51) from the floor in the game, and 43.8 percent (7-of-16) from three-point territory on their way to earning the victory. The Owls ended the contest with a 35.7 percent (20-of-56) from field goal range and 38.7 percent (12-of-31) from downtown.

"I am proud of my guys and their effort in this game," said head coach J.P. Piper. "We executed well on offense and a lot of guys stepped up to get the win."

The first half for the Colonels was their most productive first period in the tournament as they led 36-18 at the mid-way point. Nicholls started off the game on a 9-0 run and led by as many as 20 in the first half. Bathie led all scorers at intermission with 13 while Bose was the next closest to the 10-point mark with nine. Nicholls only had six turnovers at halftime, while Kennesaw State had nine that led to nine Colonel points. The Colonels also dominated in the paint as they out scored the Owls 14-to-4.

The shooting percentages were also in favor of Nicholls in the first half as they shot 48.3 percent (14-of-29) from the floor and 50 percent (6-of-12) from three-point range. The Owls only shot 22.2 percent (6-of-27) from the field goal range and 30.8 percent (4-of-13) from downtown.

The Owls (2-11) made it interesting in the second half as they cut into the lead to make it an 11-point game, 66-55, at the 4:08 mark, but the Colonels out scored Kennesaw State 18-13 over the final four minutes to coast to the victory. However, the Owls did out score the Colonels in the second half 50-48.

Nicholls will be back in action on January 10 in Stopher Gym at 7 p.m. against Stephen F. Austin to open Southland Conference play. The Lumberjacks (10-1) have won eight straight games heading into their contest with Nicholls.

####