Final Stats Box Score and Play-by-Play

THIBODAUX - Senior forward Anatoly Bose entered Wednesday's crucial Southland Conference matchup against Northwestern State needing 20 points to become just the third Colonel ever to reach the 2,000 career point mark.  He wound up pouring in 30, including nine points in overtime that saw the Sydney, Australia native complete a four-point play and sink a free throw with two seconds left in the extra period to lead the Nicholls State University men's basketball team (14-12, 8-7 Southland Conference) to a thrilling 83-81 overtime victory over Northwestern State (17-13, 9-6 Southland Conference) on Wednesday night in Stopher Gym.

The Colonels entered the game in a four-way tie for the sixth of eight Southland Conference Tournament spots with two regular season games left.  A win over the in-state rival Demons improves Nicholls chances of clinching its third consecutive postseason tournament appearance (tying a school record set from 1998 through 2001).

Bose recorded his 2,000th career point midway through the second half, sinking three free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt.  However, the Demons would not go away quietly as Northwestern State rallied down the stretch to tie the contest at 71-71 at the end of regulation and send it to extra time.

The Demons went up 80-78 with 36 seconds left in overtime on a free throw by Dominic Knight.  The Colonels worked down the clock before Bose sank a three-pointer, his only one of the night, from the top of the key while drawing a foul from the Demons' Will Pratt.  Bose sank the free throw to put Nicholls up 82-80 with 12 seconds left.  However, Northwestern State drew a foul on the next trip up the floor, but Devon Baker missed his first foul shot before sinking his second attempt to make it 82-81.

The Colonels responded on the other end as Bose drew a foul with two seconds left, sank the first free throw and missed the second.  The Demons' half court desperation shot rattled off the backboard to give the Colonels the win.

Bose finished the night with a game-high 30 points on 7-for-16 shooting, going 1-for-5 from three point range and 15-for-19 from the free throw line.  Bose finished just two rebounds shy of a double-double, grabbing a game-high eight rebounds.  Bose teamed with fellow seniors Kellan Carter and Justin Ayers, and freshman Dantrell Thomas to give the Colonels four scorers in double figures.  On senior night, Carter scored a career high with 15 points, Ayers added 14 and Thomas poured in 11.  Senior guard Kenny Franklin Jr. added six points, connecting on his only two three-point attempts of the night, including a trey that gave Nicholls its first points of the overtime period.

Prior to the start of the game, Nicholls celebrated Senior Night, honoring it's four-man class of 2011.  The game was the final home court contest in the careers of Ayers, Bose, Carter and Franklin.

Bose joins former Colonels Larry Wilson (2,569 points from 1975-79) and Reggie Jackson (2,124 points from 1992-95) as the only players in school history to reach the 2,000 career point mark.

The Colonels will return to action on Saturday, March 5 when Nicholls visits Southeastern Louisiana for a Noon tipoff against the Lions.  The game will be broadcast on the Southland Conference Television Network as the Southland Conference Game of the Week.  Tipoff is set for noon at the University Center in Hammond, La.  Fans should check their listings for broadcast channels and times.

Nicholls Basketball Senior Class of 2011 - Senior Night Postgame

Anatoly Bose, Part One

Anatoly Bose, Part Two

Kellan Carter

Justin Ayers

Kenny Franklin Jr.

J.P. Piper