Nov. 5, 2009
Box Score
THIBODAUX - The Nicholls State University men's basketball team rode a high-powered offense to a win over perennial NCAA Division II power Delta State, ranked No. 21 in the preseason DII poll, in Stopher Gym on Thursday night by a final of 98-83.
Junior guard/forward Anatoly Bose led the Colonels in scoring (26 points) and rebounding (nine boards). Meanwhile, sophomore guard Chris Iles (13 points), junior guard/forward Maurice Foster (11 points), sophomore guard Fred Hunter (20 points) sophomore forward Cameron McCallum (10 points) and junior guard/forward Phillip Ward (10 points) joined Bose to give Nicholls six scorers in double figures.
The Colonels high-powered offense helped Nicholls to within two points of the century mark while outpacing one of the better offenses in DII, but head coach J.P. Piper said his team knows they need to improve on defense if they hope to make a run at the Southland Conference title this season.
"Ninety-eight points is pretty darn good. We're going to score the ball," Piper said. "We're going to score points, but you can't give up 12 threes or let a a guy go off for 34 points. You just can't do that, or you will lose games. We scheduled Delta State on purpose. We were tough on our guys in the lockerroom just now about our defensive effort. But the reality is, they have seven guys recruited by division one institutions a little above the Southland Conference. Their coach was able to pull it all together and they came in expecting to beat us. We have some work to do, but that's okay."
The Statesmen had four double figure scorers of their own as Roderick Ollie led all scorers with 34 points, 22 of which came in the first half.
Despite Ollie's hot start for Delta State in the first, and the Statesmen outshooting the Colonels from the field 61.1% to 56.7 % in the opening frame, Nicholls would go into halftime with a 44-37 lead.
The Colonels forced 14 first half turnovers by the Statesmen, shot 77.8% from the charity stripe while turning the ball over just five times. Bose totaled 11 first half points on 3-for-8 shooting while going 4-for-4 from the line to keep the Colonels out in front.
Nicholls took control when play resumed, forcing 13 more turnovers to help keep the Statesmen offense in check. Meanwhile, Hunter sparked the Colonel offense with a team-high 17 second half points.
With the win, the Colonels now turn their attention to the 2009-10 season opener at Duquesne on Friday, Nov. 13.
