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KATY, Texas – Senior Dantrell Thomas scored a game-high 27 points and the Colonels used an 8-0 run midway in the second half to grab the lead for good as the Nicholls State University men's basketball team defeated Southeastern Louisiana, 71-64, Wednesday night at the Merrell Center to advance to the second round of the Southland Conference Tournament.

The Colonels (14-14) will take on No. 4 Northwestern State (16-13) Thursday night with tipoff scheduled for 5 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN 100.3 FM and KLEB 1600 AM, and a live video stream will also be available on the Southland Digital Network.

Thomas finished the night 7-of-12 from the field, making both of his 3-point attempts and converted 11-of-15 at the free throw line. TJ Carpenter scored all 13 of his points in the first half as the Colonels were tied with Southeastern (12-18) at the break, 35-35.

After the game was tied for the ninth and final time at 43-43, Nicholls hit two of its seven 3-pointers on the night to spark an 8-0 run. Freshman Luke Doyle started the spurt with a bucket from long range and a putback, and Amin Torres knocked down a 3-ball for a 51-43 lead with 9:23 to go.

The Lions brought the deficit to one with just over five minutes remaining, but Thomas drained the Colonels seventh shot from downtown to make the score 55-51. Thomas then found Liam Thomas underneath for a bucket before making three free throws for a 60-51 lead.

SLU's Jeffrey Richard led a late comeback, making a 3-pointer with 1:22 left, then stole the ball and made a layup to put the score at 60-56 with 72 seconds remaining.  But Thomas snuck past the press for a layup, and Ja'Dante Frye put the exclamation point on with a dunk as the Colonels went on to snap their five-game postseason skid.

The Colonels won the battle of the boards, 40-35, getting 12 from Liam Thomas, who also blocked three shots. Nicholls had 15 assists in the win, led by six from Dantrell Thomas.

Dre Evans led SLU with 15 points, Antonnio Benton had 12 and Richard finished with 11.