Final Stats Postgame Press Conference

KATY, Texas – The Nicholls State University men's basketball team found itself down 20 points in the first half against Northwestern State, but despite a valiant effort in the second half led by senior Jeremy Smith, the Colonels were unable to recover as they were defeated 88-72 in the quarterfinals of the Southland Conference Tournament on Thursday night at the Merrell Center.

With the loss, Nicholls finishes the year with a 14-15 record. Northwestern State improves to 17-13 and will take on No. 1 Stephen F. Austin in the semifinals.

Smith closed out his career with a 24-point effort, one shy of matching his career-high which he set in the Colonels' win at McNeese. The New Orleans native made a career-high four 3-pointers, with three coming after the break to fuel a 16-point half. The Colonels were only outscored 45-44 by the Demons in the second period, but trailed 43-28 at the intermission.

NSU grabbed the 15-point halftime lead after shooting 51 percent in the field. Nicholls made only 36 percent and struggled from behind the arc, converting on 3-of-17. For the game, the Colonels launched a season-high 39 3-pointers, making nine for a 23 percent clip.

The Colonels made a run in the second half, cutting the deficit to single digits at 52-44 with 13:46 remaining. Freshman Liam Thomas scored two buckets inside, and Smith capped the run with a 3-pointer.

But the Demons answered the run, and pushed their lead back to 15 with eight minutes to go. Nicholls never came closer than 11 the rest of the way as they fell to NSU for the second time this season.

Senior Dantrell Thomas joined Smith in double figures, scoring 12 points before fouling out. Sophomore TJ Carpenter scored 11, but made only 4-of-19 from the field. Off the bench, Ja'Dante' Frye had five points and five rebounds, and Luke Doyle added three points and a career-high six assists.

DeQuan Hicks scored 21 points off the bench to lead NSU, while Marvin Frazier and Jalan West added 18 points each.