Final Stats Loyola-Nicholls Box Score

HOUMA, La. – The Nicholls State University men's basketball team shot a blazing 61.5 percent first half to build a 14-point lead at the break as the Colonels went on to snap their three-game skid with a 92-76 victory over the Loyola Wolfpack on Friday night at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center.

The Colonels (2-6) were led by a career-high 20 points from sophomore Bryan Hammond, who connected on 8-of-13 including one 3-pointer. Hammond was one of six players to reach double figures, followed by a career-high 18 points by freshman Lachlan Prest and 12 from Trevon Lewis and Shane Rillieux. Rounding out the scoring leaders were Sam McBeath (13) and Chris Talkington (10).

Nicholls never trailed Loyola in the contest, and the game was only tied once, 3-3, after the teams traded 3-pointers to start the game. Prest, who hit the first 3-pointer, nailed another one from long range to break the tie and the Colonels never looked back as they racked up a season-high 92 points, which was the highest total since Dec. 16, 2010 against Dillard (94).

Prest scored all 18 on 6-of-10 from behind the arc as Nicholls shot 9-of-19 as a team (47.4 percent).
Along with Hammond, McBeath and Rillieux also finished with one 3-pointer.

Leading 9-8 four minutes into the contest, Nicholls separated itself midway through the period with a 13-2 run for a 22-10 lead. The Colonels grabbed its largest lead of the half, 34-19, after a basket-and-one from Rillieux. Nicholls headed into the intermission with a comfortable 14-point lead.

After the break, Loyola battled back to cut the deficit to single digits at the 13:58 mark, 52-44, but the Colonels went on a 10-0 run to go up 62-44 with 11:14 remaining in the second half.

Robert Lovaglio led the Wolfpack with 20 points, followed by Corey Gray who had 17. The Wolfpack were held to just 39-percent shooting on the night, but got 33 points from the free throw line.

The Colonels will be back in action on Monday, in the first of back-to-back games beginning with ULM at 6:30 p.m. in Monroe before playing Texas on Tuesday.