Nicholls State University

Bose Surpasses 1,000 as Colonels Cruise Past Mobile

Dec. 14, 2009

THIBODAUX- Junior forward/guard Anatoly Bose became the latest member of the Colonels' 1,000 point club as the Sydney, Australia native poured in a game-high 25 points to lead the Nicholls State University men's basketball team (3-8) to its third consecutive win on Monday night.

Bose was one of four Colonels to score in double digits against the University of Mobile Rams (5-2). The 81-60 victory over the Rams, who own an exhibition win over DI UL-Lafayette this season and came in ranked 18th in the NAIA in scoring, was Nicholls' third straight against an NAIA in the top 20 in scoring, and the Colonels' third straight victory at Stopher Gym after opening the season with eight consecutive losses away from home.

The Colonels came out strong in the first half as a 19-6 run over the first 6:30 gave Nicholls an early cushion. The Colonels kept pulling away throughout the half, and as sophomore guard Fred Hunter sank a three-pointer at the buzzer, Nicholls found itself with a 20-point 51-31 halftime lead.

Bose scored 15 of his 15 points in the first half on 5-for-8 shooting from the field while going 2-for-2 from the line. However, three other Colonel starters found themselves in double digits heading into the lockerroom.

Sophomore guard Chris Iles turned in ten of his career high 21 points in the first half, and Hunter and junior guard Kellan Carter each added ten more as Nicholls claimed a commanding halftime lead, and give the Colonels four scorers in double figures for the first time this season.

Nicholls continued to pull away through the second half, and when Bose hit a pair of free throws with seven minutes left to go for his 1,000th and 1,001st career points, the Colonels found themselves up 71-48.

Bose becomes the fourth Colonel to join the 1,000 point club in head coach J.P. Piper's tenure, joining Ryan Bathie (2005-09), Stefan Blaszczynski (2003-07) and Adonis Gray (2004-08)

The Rams closed strong, outscoring the Colonels 12-10 the rest of the way for the final margin.

For the third consecutive game, Nicholls set a new season high for field goal percentage with a 61.7 percent mark. Meanhile, the Colonels swarming defensive effort forced 21 turnovers, recorded 13 steals and limited the Rams to 47.5 percent shooting from the field.

With the win, the Colonels extend their home winning streak to five games. Nicholls has not lost in Stopher Gym since Feb. 7, 2009, a 69-68 loss to conference rival Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

The Colonels will return to action by hitting the road to face in-state foe LSU. The Tigers are coming off a 77-60 win over Nicholls Southland Conference rival, Southeastern Louisiana on Monday.

Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge. The game will be broadcast on Cox Sports Television.