Final Stats Box Score and Play-by-Play

THIBODAUX -  Seven different Colonels put their names in the scoring column led by senior forward Anatoly Bose's school record 40th career 20 point game and junior guard/forward Fred Hunter's near double-double (13 points, 9 rebounds) as the Nicholls State University men's basketball team (9-7, 3-2 Southland Conference) cruised to their 11th consecutive home-court victory by a final of 66-52 in Stopher Gym on Saturday.

The Red Out game between the Colonels and Lions drew the largest home crowd of the season as 1,382 fans witnessed Bose turn in 22 points on 7-for-12 shooting for his 40th career 20-point game, Hunter score 13 to put himself nine points away from the 1,000 career point plateau, and senior guard Kellan Carter drain his first career three pointer en route to a six-point game.

In addition to Bose and Hunter's output, the Colonels saw strong performances from senior guard Kenny Franklin Jr and freshman guard Dantrell Thomas who scored eight points and dished out three assists each.  Franklin connected on 3-of-4 field goal attempts, including a pair of threes.  Thomas meanwhile, went 4-for-9 from the floor.

Nicholls never trailed in a ballgame that began as a defensive struggle.  Neither team could find the basket in the first 3:30.  Hunter finally got the scoring underway with a layup in traffic off a backdoor cut to make it 2-0 with 16:29 left in the first.  Nicholls went on a 19-8 run over the first 11:13 of the first half to go up 11 points on a jumper in the paint by Thomas.  Southeastern tried to battle back, pulling to within six points three times before the end of the half.

However, Nicholls closed the first half strong as a 7-2 run over the final three minutes of the half.  Bose capped the run with a three pointer with seven seconds left to give the Colonels a 34-22 lead heading into halftime.

Nicholls continued to pull away in the second half as a 12-2 Colonel run over the first 3:27 gave the Colonels a 22-point lead, their largest of the day.  Bose scored the final five points of the run with a pair of free throws and a three pointer to make it 46-24 with 16:23 remaining.  The Lions never got closer than 13 points the rest of the way as Nicholls remained undefeated at home dating back to Feb. 10, 2010 with the 66-42 win.

The Colonels will return to action on Wednesday when they host McNeese State in the second game of a men's and women's double header.  The Nicholls women's team will take on the McNeese State Cowgirls at 5 p.m. before the Colonel men host the Cowboys at 7 p.m. Kenny Franklin Jr. Discusses the Colonels' 11th-Consecutive Home Court Win/u>