Colonels Fall to Demons in Double Overtime Heartbreaker, 99-98

Jan. 23, 2010

NATCHITOCHES, La. - Junior guard/forward Anatoly Bose notched his second career double-double of the season with a career-high 46 points and 14 rebounds, and sophomore point guard Chris Iles added a career-high 24 points and five assists. However, it wasn't enough as the Nicholls State University men's basketball team (6-12, 2-3 Southland) fell in a 99-98 double overtime heartbreaker at Northwestern State (6-11, 1-3 Southland) on Saturday.

The Colonels' 98 points were the most scored by a Nicholls team since a 105-90 win over Lamar on March 1, 2007. However, the Demons outshot the Colonels from the field 60.3% (35-for-58) to 51% (28-for-51) to outpace the Nicholls offense. Northwestern State's Devon Baker hit a free throw with just over one second left in the second overtime period and Bose's desperation three from the Demon free throw line was no good for the final margin.

Bose's 46 led all scorers on the day and shattered his previous career high of 27 points, a mark he met twice in his career (Nov. 21, 2009 against Miami (OH) and Dec. 8, 2009 vs. Southern-New Orleans). Bose's point total was the most by any player in the Southland Conference this season, and his 14 rebounds gave him his second double-double of the year.

Iles also set a new career standard with 25 points, bettering his previous mark of 21 (Dec. 14, 2009 vs. Mobile).

Sixty-eight fouls were called in the game (34 for each team) and four players fouled out for each squad in a hotly-contested matchup that saw the Colonels' grinding slower-paced style line up against Northwestern State's up-tempo run-the-floor game.

Nicholls got off to a sluggish start as the Demons jumped out to a 22-8 lead with 9:59 minutes left in the first. Despite Northwestern State's dominant start, the Colonels rallied with a 12-6 run to cut the Demon lead to eight (28-20) with 2:36 left in the opener. Nicholls reduced the deficit to seven at the end of the half as Bose hit a pair of free throws to make it 33-26 heading into the break.

Northwestern State went back up by ten at the start of the second half, but the Colonels refused to go away. Nicholls finally caught up and tied things at 60-60 on three from Iles with 3:51 left before finally taking their first lead of the game as sophomore guard Fred Hunter hit a free throw to make it 61-60 with 3:02 left in the second.

The Colonels extended that lead 68-61 after an 11-6 run put Nicholls up by seven with 1:04 remaining in the second. However, Northwestern State stayed alive thanks to 10-3 run in the final minute that tied things up at 71-71 and send it to overtime. After the Demons hit a three to make it 71-69 with 25 seconds left, the Colonels were called for traveling on their next possession. Northwestern State tied it up on a dunk by Damon Jones and Iles' halfcourt shot didn't fall.

In overtime, Nicholls started strong taking an 81-75 lead on a free throw by Hunter with 3:07 left. Yet, with three of their better defenders having fouled out, the Colonels could not stop the Demons from coming back. Northwestern State closed the first overtime with a 15-9 run. Baker hit a layup in traffic as time expired to tie things at 89-89 and force a second OT.

In the second, Northwestern State stayed hot, jumping out to a 96-89 lead with 1:56 left. However, the Colonels continued to fight. Bose scored nine points for Nicholls 1:34 to tie things up at 98-98 with under 20 seconds remaining.

However, on the very next possession, the Demons took advantage of a close call as Colonel forward Dominic Friend was called for a blocking foul on Baker. With just over one second remaining. Baker connected on the first of two free throws for the final margin.

The two teams split their regular season series. Nicholls beat the Demons 79-72 on Jan. 9 in Thibodaux.

The Colonels will try to snap a two-game losing streak when they return to Thibodaux to host a two-game homestand against in-state conference rivals McNeese State (Wednesday, Jan. 27) and Southeastern Louisiana (Saturday, Jan. 30).

Nicholls, which is still in search of its first conference road win, will bring a seven-game home winning streak into Wednesday's matchup with McNeese. The Colonels are 5-0 at home this season and have not lost in Stopher Gym since Feb. 7, 2009.