Nicholls State University

Sharpshooting Colonels Roll Past SUNO

Dec. 8, 2009

THIBODAUX - Sophomore guard Chris Iles notched the first 20-point game of his career, junior swingman Anatoly Bose tied his career scoring high and sophomore guard Fred Hunter turned in the Colonels' first double-double of the season as the Nicholls State University men's basketball team (2-8) rolled past the Knights of Southern University-New Orleans by a final of 94-66 on Tuesday night.

Nicholls continued to make effective use of home court advantage in the second game of a three-game homestand. The Colonels opened the season on the road with eight straight contests before returning to Stopher Gym on Dec. 3 against Loyola-New Orleans.

After finding the win column for the first time this season against the Wolfpack, the Colonels came out strong against the Knights. Nicholls shot a season-best .529 from the field while limiting SUNO (ranked 17th in scoring in NAIA entering the contest) to a .411 team shooting percentage.

Iles added six assists to his 20 points while Bose poured in 27 to lead all scorers. The Sydney, Australia native tied his career high, set earlier this season at the World Vision Classic against Miami (Ohio) on Nov. 21.

The Colonels also boasted the game's leading rebounder as Hunter snared 12 boards while adding 19 points for Nicholls' first double-double on the season.

SUNO was led by Ricardo Porter's 19 points, and the Knights got double-digit output from Lionel Green (13 points) and Xavier Francis (12 points). However, the Colonels opened the contest with a 24-9 run over the first seven minutes of the game, and the Nicholls lead was never in serious jeopardy.

Junior guard Kenny Franklin Jr. hit a three as the first half buzzer sounded to put the Colonels up 51-26 heading into the lockerroom. The Knights pulled to within 15 points as a Ronald Palmer free throw made it 62-47 with 11:05 remaining, but that was as close as it would get as Nicholls continued to pull away en route to the 94-66 final.

Nicholls eclipsed the 90-point mark for the first since beating Houston-Tillotson 96-53 on Dec. 10, 2008.

The Colonels will return to action when they conclude their three-game homestand (their longest of the season) on Dec. 14 against the University of Mobile. Tipoff against the Rams, who are currently 4-1 and upset UL-Lafayette on Nov. 24, is set for 6:30 p.m. at Stopher Gym.