March 1, 2008

Box Score

CONWAY, Ark. - Both teams didn't combine for 194 points like they did in this season's first match up in Stopher Gym, but Nicholls did have four players in double-figures as they defeated Central Arkansas for the first time in school history on Saturday night in the Farris Center, 60-51.

Junior Ryan Bathie led all scorers in the win as he posted 19 points and nine rebounds. Bathie also went 3-of-5 from three-point range that gave him 201 career three pointers making him only the sixth player in Southland Conference history to make 200 shots from downtown. His three makes tonight helped him surpass Northwestern State's former great Jermaine Wallace on the SLC list.

Following Bathie across the decade mark was freshman Dominic Friend and senior Adonis Gray with 14 points each. Friend also notched 10 rebounds giving him his second double-double of his career. Gray also pulled down seven rebounds in the victory, and tied his career high in assists with six.

Rounding out the Colonels' double-figure scorers was true freshman Anatoly Bose as he finished with 10-points and seven rebounds. Bose has socred 10-plus points in 16 games this season for the Colonels.

Although junior Gil Verner and sophomore Chris Paige did not score in the contest, they both proved valuable in the win as Verner had four assists, three steals, and a block while Paige had two rebounds and two blocks.

"The guys played well. We made big shots at critical points in the game, and made free throws down the stretch to secure the win," said head coach J.P. Piper. "Justin Payne and Kellan Carter did an outstanding job defending (Nate) Bowie and only limited him to 15 points."

In the Colonels and Bears game earlier this season, UCA's Nate Bowie rung up 39-points to beat Nicholls 98-96 in double overtime.

Nicholls led 30-22 at the half, and despite a resilient effort by Central Arkansas in the second half, the Colonels out scored the Bears 30-29 in the second stanza to get the road victory.

The Colonels (9-20, 4-10) led by as many as 15-points at the 15:24 mark of the first half while Central Arkansas (14-15, 4-11) failed to have any bench points in the contest.

As a team, Nicholls shot 40.8 percent (20-of-49) from the floor to Central Arkansas' mark of 34.0 percent (16-of-47) while both teams shot 40.0 percent from downtown; the Colonels made 8-of-20 while the Bears sank 6-of-15 from behind the arc. Nicholls also won the battle on the boards, 37-to-30.

Nicholls will take to the road again Thursday as they play league-leading Lamar (18-9, 12-2) in Beaumont, Tex. Earlier this season, the Cardinals defeated the Colonels 72-68 in overtime in Stopher Gym. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

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