Dec. 3, 2009

Final Stats

THIBODAUX - Junior Anatoly Bose paced the Colonel offense with 23 points, sophomore Fred Hunter added 18 more while finishing one rebound shy of a double-double and the Nicholls State University men's basketball team (1-8) turned in a big second half to pull away from NAIA power Loyola-New Orleans for an 82-66 victory in the Colonels' home opener on Thursday night.

Nicholls snapped an eight-game losing streak to open the season. The Colonels played eight straight contests away from Thibodaux to start the season and made the most of their return to Thibodaux.

In addition to Bose and Hunter, Nicholls saw double-digit scoring output off the bench from juniors Maurice Foster (14 points) and Kenny Franklin Jr. (12 points).

The Colonels turned in their best shooting performance of the season, going 27-for-57 from the floor (47.4 percent). Loyola actually outshot the Colonels, going 22-for-43 (51.2 percent), but the Colonels forced 15 turnovers and outrebounded the Wolfpack 37-22 to stay out in front.

Loyola's Ryan Brock, the NAIA's leading scorer entering the contest averaging 26.83 points/game, was held to just eight points. However, Loyola stayed close thanks to 28 points from Sean Bennett. The sixth-leading scorer in the NAIA shot 7-for-14 from the field and 5-for-11 from beyond the arc on the night, and the Wolfpack were within five at the half as Nicholls claimed a 35-30 lead heading into the lockerroom.

Fortunately, the Colonels stepped on the gas in the second half. Nicholls started a 13-6 run with just under 11 minutes remaining to go up 70-56 with 5:41 left and take control for good.

The Colonels will return to action when they host Southern-New Orleans on Tuesday night Dec. 8 in Stopher Gym. Nicholls will conclude its three-game homestand, its only non-conference home games this season, with a Dec. 14 tilt against Mobile. Tipoff for both contests is slated for 6:30 p.m.