Feb. 27, 2010

Final Stats

LAKE CHARLES, La. - Sophomore guard/forward Fred Hunter and junior guard/forward Anatoly Bose both turned in double-digit scoring performances, but it wasn't enough for the Nicholls State University men's basketball team (9-18, 5-9 Southland Conference) as the McNeese State Cowboys (10-18, 5-9 Southland) claimed a 69-53 win and force a four-way tie for the eighth and final Southland Tournament berth on Saturday.

With two games remaining, the Colonels need to find a way to separate themselves from a crowd that includes Northwestern State, Lamar and the Cowboys (who all sport matching 5-9 league records) to keep their postseason hopes alive.

The Colonels were led by Hunter's 11 points, and Bose added ten on Saturday. However, the Cowboys shot 58.3 percent and never trailed in the contest en route to Saturday's win. Patrick Richard led all scorers with 12 points for the Cowboys. McNeese also saw double-digit performances from Diego Kapelan (11 points) and P.J. Alowoya (10 points) while the Cowboy bench added 30 points the the 22 points contributed by the Colonels' reserves.

Nicholls will try to rebound when the Colonels head to Texas-Arlington for a midweek matchup with the Mavericks on Wednesday.