November 14, 2006

SEATTLE, Wash. - Junior guard/forward Adonis Gray set a new career high in points for the second straight game by scoring 33 in the Colonels 98-83 loss to Pepperdine. Gray averaged 27.3 points a game in the Basketball Travelers Classic, and was named to the all-tournament team for his outstanding performance.

"I am proud of how our guys played over the four day span," said head coach J.P. Piper. "They were tired, but they never quit and they never gave up."

Sophomore guard Justin Payne scored a career high in the loss with 15 points, but fouled out in the contest. Payne's double digit scoring effort was the first of his career. Also scoring 15 points was junior guard/forward Aaron Scott, who made 11 of his 12 free throw attempts.

The Colonels (0-4, 0-0) fell victim to fatigue after playing their fourth game in four days, but responded well to the adverse circumstances by playing hard thorough out the tournament.

"They were out there running on empty, but our guys gave it their all and represented Nicholls well," said Piper.

Nicholls made their game against Pepperdine a ten-point contest with less than eight minutes to go, but the Colonels were out manned by only dressing eight players. The Waves also did not make it any easier by making a school record 21 three-point field goals on the Colonels that lifted Pepperdine to their first win of the season.

"Washington's fans were out their rooting for us," said Piper, "Hats off to the people that organized the tournament, and all the fans for making us feel so welcome so far away from our home."

The Colonels will be back in action at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, La. on Friday November 17, when they take on the Tigers of Louisiana State. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. as the Colonels seek their first win of the season.

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