Final Stats Northwestern State-Nicholls Box Score

Thibodaux, La. – The Colonels basketball team led by as many as 19 points at one point during the second half, but a 16-2 run by the Northwestern State Demons gave the visitors enough momentum to overtake Nicholls late, and stole one on the road 80-79 in Thibodaux Wednesday night.

With only nine players suiting up for the Colonels (4-11, 0-3 SLC) in the game, Nicholls had five players finish in double figures, led by Shane Rillieux's team-high 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Trevon Lewis, Jeremy Smith and Sterling Bailey each finished with 14.

The Colonels led from the outset of the game, but with the score 52-33 with 17:38 remaining in the second period, the Demons (9-7, 2-0) began to rally, first going on 6-0 run to get to within 11 of the Colonels. Even with a Smith jumper to put Nicholls up 13, Northwestern State went on to outscore the Colonels by the 16-2 margin to make the score 57-55 Nicholls with 9:18 remaining in the contest.

It seemed as if the Colonels would be able to hold off the Northwestern State onslaught getting clutch shots from Bailey and Smith, as Smith hit the first 3-pointer of his career with 5:59 left to put the Colonels up 65-61. But the Demons fought back once again trailing by six after two Rillieux made free throws going on a 7-0 run, capped by the Demons' only three pointer of the night coming from James Hulbin, to take the lead and hold off the Colonels for the last three minutes of the game.

Bailey would hit a three at the buzzer to make the final score 80-79.

Nicholls shot out of the gate hitting 53-percent of their shots in the first half, making 6-of-11 3-pointers to start the game. Lewis and Bryan Hammond scored 14 and 13 points, respectively, in the period to take a commanding 45-31 lead into the break. The Colonels hit three more shots than Northwestern State in the game (28 to 25) and finished with 11 3-pointers.

Each team was able to get to the line in the first period, but after 9-of-13 in the first half, the Demons found themselves in the bonus with half of the second period still left to play. By the end of the night, the Demons were 29-of-37 from the charity stripe, led by William Mosley who made 8-of-13 to finish with a game-high 18 points.

Next up for the Colonels will be a tilt with the Sam Houston State Bearkats Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. in Stopher Gym.