Nov. 17, 2009

Box Score

HOUSTON - Freshman forward Phillip Ward and sophomore guard Fred Hunter both scored in double digits, but it wasn't enough to help the Colonels overcome foul trouble, turnovers and a high-powered University of Houston offense as the Nicholls State University men's basketball team (0-2) fell to the Cougars (1-0) by a final of 92-60 at Hofheinz Pavillion on Tuesday night.

The Colonels were led by 24 points from Hunter, his fifth career 20-point game, and 14 points from Ward, his first career double-digit contest. However, the Cougars saw a game-high 33 points from preseason first team All Conference USA honoree Aubrey Coleman, and 23 Colonel fouls and 21 Nicholls turnovers made it difficult for the Colonels to get going in their second of eight consecutive games away from home.

For the second time in as many games, the Colonels struck first. Nicholls put together a 7-0 run to open the contest as junior guard Kellan Carter found Hunter on a backdoor cut for an easy lay in. The Colonels then stifled Houston's next two possessions with a pair of steals. Nicholls converted on both turnovers with two straight fast break layups. Sophomore guard Fred Hunter was fouled on the second and sank a free throw for a 7-0 lead.

However, Houston responded by taking advantage of seven Colonel fouls in the first six minutes to go on an 12-2 run and take a 12-9 lead with 14:00 left in the first. After Nicholls briefly tied the game at 12-12, the Cougars put together a 13-0 run to claim a 25-12 lead with 7:30 left in the opening period.

Nicholls would try to battle back, as the Colonels were outscored by just two points (12-10) over the final seven and a half minutes of the half.

Unfortunately, The Colonels would go on to commit 13 first half fouls, allowing the Cougars to go 8-13 from the free throw line in the opening half. Houston also forced 11 turnovers in the first half to keep Nicholls at bay and take a 37-22 lead into the half.

Houston shot 46.2 percent (12-for-26) from the field while limiting Nicholls to 8-for-25 shooting (32.0 percent) and out-rebounding the Colonels 22-16 in the first half.

Nicholls regrouped at halftime and came out strong to start the half with an 8-0 run to pull to within 37-30 with just under 18 minutes left.

However, once again, the Cougars responded with another big run of their own. After the Colonels cut the deficit to seven, Houston went on an 18-7 run to claim an 18-point lead at 55-37 with just under 13 minutes left.

The Cougars would continue to outpace Nicholls the rest of the way en route to the 92-60 victory.

Nicholls will return to action when the Colonels embark on a six-game, two-tournament road trip that will see them visit the Basketball Travelers World Vision Classic in Albuquerque, N.M. and the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout in Anchorage.

Nicholls will face the University of New Mexico Lobos on Friday with tipoff scheduled for 9:15 p.m. CST at The Pit in Albuquerque. Live stats will be available for every game of the tournament at www.GoLobos.com.