Final Stats Box Score and Play-by-Play

THIBODAUX -  Three different Colonels scored in double figures and the Nicholls State University men's basketball team (8-7, 2-2 Southland Conference) scored 25 points off of 20 turnovers to pull away from the Central Arkansas Bears (4-13, 0-4 Southland Conference).

The Colonels were led by a game-high 21 points from junior guard/forward Fred Hunter who shot 10-for-14 from the field.  Senior forward Anatoly Bose added 18 points on 5-for-6 shooting despite logging just eight first half minutes due to early foul trouble, and freshman guard Dantrell Thomas came off the bench to finish with 12 points on 5-for-6 shooting.

The first half proved to be a defensive struggle as the Colonels offense was slow to get going with Bose on the bench.  The Sydney, Australia native scored Nicholls first seven points and nine points in the first seven minutes before being whistled for two quick calls and sitting out the remainder of the half.

With the Colonels' leading scorer on the bench, the Bears stayed close, battling Nicholls through four first half lead changes and cutting the Colonels' lead to three at the break, trailing 30-27 at the half.

However, the Colonels came out strong in the second half as the Nicholls defense continued to grind down the Bears.  Nicholls came away with 20 turnovers while recording nine steals and committing just nine turnovers of their own.  Senior guard Kellan Carter turned in a team-high four steals on the night with redshirt junior Ben Martin adding three picks.

The Colonels offense continued to heat up as well as Nicholls shot .577 (15-for-26) from the field in the second half.  Hunter led the way by recording 18 of his 21 points in the second half on 9-for-10 shooting.  The Denton, Texas native narrowly missed a double-double, grabbing a team-high eight rebounds (including four on the offensive end).

Nicholls outscored the Bears 40-24 in the second half en route to the 70-51 win.

The Colonels will return to action on Saturday when Nicholls hosts in-state and Southland Conference rival Southeastern Louisiana in the 2011 Red Out Game.  Fans are encouraged to wear red, and an official Nicholls Red Out T-Shirt is available at the Nicholls Bookstore for the rest of the week and on the day of the game at Stopher Gym.

Fred Hunter Discusses His 21-Point Game Against the Bears