Jan. 31, 2009

Box Score

HAMMOND, La. - Nicholls forced 15 Lion turnovers and outrebounded Southeastern 28 to 17 en route to a 68-65 Southland Conference victory Saturday afternoon at the University Center.

The win marks the Colonels' fourth-straight over a league opponent, the first time since the 1997-98 season a Nicholls team has won four in a row in conference.

"It's incredible," said Head Coach J.P. Piper. "I am just so proud of these guys and I told them that in the locker room. They've really bought in to what we're asking them to do and they do it with such passion and enthusiasm and they find ways to win."

After shooting 43.5% (10-of-23) from the field in the opening half, the Colonels spent the majority of the closing 20 minutes at the free-throw line, sinking 21 of their 32 attempts.

Senior Ryan Bathie (Melton, Australia/Mowbray) poured in a season-high 25 points, going 9-of-15 from the floor. Sophomore Anatoly Bose (Sydney, Australia/Waverley) and freshman Fred Hunter (Denton, Texas/Denton) joined Bathie in double figures, with 14 and 12, respectively.

Sophomore Kellan Carter (Fresno, Calif./Edison) and Hunter pulled down a team-leading six rebounds apiece, while senior Justin Payne (Opelousas, La./Opelousas) dished out a team-best three assists.

"There were moments tonight where it looked like we weren't going to be able to find a bucket and the momentum would slip away from us," Piper noted, "but they just refused to quit believing they could win. They keep battling and battling and good things happen for them."

Hunter's old-fashioned three-point play at the 14:57 mark gave the Colonels their first lead of the half, 40-38, part of an 11-4 run that helped build the Colonel lead to seven (47-40) with just over eleven minutes to play.

The Colonels doubled up the Lions on the boards, pulling down 16 first-half rebounds to Southeastern Louisiana's eight. Nicholls trailed by as many as seven (28-21) late in the opening half, but closed out the frame with a 10-4 run to close the halftime gap to one point, 32-31.

With 10-of-11 (90.9%) shooting from the line, the Colonels recorded the best free-throw shooting half of the season, besting a 90.5% mark set vs. Northwestern State (1/24).

Bathie reached double figures early, finishing the first half with an even dozen. Hunter added eight points and was the Colonels' leader on the glass with four rebounds - three on the offensive end - in the opening 20 minutes.

The Colonels will return to Stopher Gym Wednesday night, hosting Stephen F. Austin for a 6:30 p.m. tip-off.

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