Fred Hunter (left) turned in a career high with 28 points and Anatoly Bose (right) turned in the 30th 20 point game of his career on Friday
Final Stats Box Score and Play-by-Play
HOUSTON - Junior forward
Fred Hunter turned in a career-high 28 points and senior forward
Anatoly Bose added 22 points for his 30th career 20-point game as the Nicholls State University men's basketball team battled the University of Houston Cougars through nine tie scores and 11 lead changes, but it wasn't enough as the Colonels fell in overtime 63-62 in the 2010-11 regular season opener for both teams.
The Colonels led by as many as ten in the second half, taking a 34-24 lead. However, Houston put together a 15-0 run midway through the second to go up 39-34. Nicholls battled back, forcing overtime with a 53-53 score at the end of regulation.
With under 30 seconds left to go in overtime and Nicholls down 61-59, Bose was fouled on a three-point attempt. The Sydney, Australia native sank all three shots to put the Colonels up 62-61. Houston's Darian Thibodeaux missed a three on the ensuing possession and the Colonels'
Bryan Hammond came down with the rebound only to be called for traveling with 9.9 seconds left.
Houston's Maurice McNeil banked in a shot in the lane through traffic with five seconds left to make it 63-62, and Nicholls looked to answer immediately. The Colonels pushed the ball up the floor and tried to set up Bose for a pull-up three from the wing for the win, but the shot rattled in and out at the buzzer for the final.
Hunter led all scorers with 28 points on 12-of-21 shooting. The Denton, Texas native finished two rebounds shy of a double-doubel, taking down eight boards, including six on the offensive end.
Bose added to his school record by turning in his 30th career 20-point performance. Bose shot 6-of-20 from the field, and sank all nine of his free throw attempts. In fact, as a team, the Colonels were perfect from the charity stripe as Bose and Hunter combined to sink all 12 of Nicholls' free throw attempts in the game.
The Colonels will return to action when they head to LSU on Tuesday. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
