THIBODAUX, La. – With the clock winding down, Amin Torres up-faked, leaned in and fired an off-balance three-pointer that rimed out as time expired and the Nicholls State University men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaker 69-66, against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in Stopher Gym.
 
The Colonels (4-10, 1-3 SLC) followed up their most complete game of the year with another inspired effort, but six missed free throws in the second half, including three in the final minute doomed Nicholls on Saturday night. The Islanders (8-8, 3-1 SLC) played an extremely physical ballgame, just edging out the Colonels to steal the victory.
 
Corpus Christi showed from the outset the physical nature they would bring to the contest as Rashawn Thomas was assessed a flagrant foul for throwing an elbow just 30 seconds into the matchup. Nicholls jumped out to a five-point lead at the 14-minute mark after a Luka Kamber made free throw. The Islanders responded, tying the game when John Jordan connected on a three-point basket and a jumper on back-to-back possessions. After Viktor Juricek knocked down two shots at the charity stipe, Corpus Christi gained a five-point advantage with less than five minutes remaining in the period. The Colonels chipped away, and regained the lead after Kamber nailed a shot from beyond the arc at the two-minute mark. Nicholls would take a 33-32 lead into the break.
 
Both teams traded blows in the opening minutes of the second period with five lead changes and three ties coming in the first five minutes. After a 10-2 Islander run, Corpus Christi gained an eight-point lead with under 10 minutes remaining in the game. The Colonels battled back, cutting the Islanders advantage to a two-point lead at the 1:27 mark. Only seconds later, Brandon Pye drilled a three-pointer to push the Corpus Christi lead to five. With 32 seconds remaining, Pye sank two free throws to put the Islanders up 66-59. Nicholls answered with a three-point basket from Torres before Quinton Thomas stole the ensuing inbound and was immediately fouled. Q. Thomas, who knocked down a free throw to ice Tuesday's win against Houston Baptist, missed both free throws and the Colonels were forced to foul. Corpus Christi hit one-of-two at the line. McBeath was subsequently fouled and went 1-for-2 at the line as well. Q. Thomas forced another turnover giving Nicholls life. Torres made a jumper and was fouled, connecting on the free throw to pull the Colonels within a point at 67-66. Nicholls fouled Pye, who made both attempts at the charity stripe and the Colonels last-second shot fell short.
 
Nicholls shot 41.2 percent from the floor, 26.7 percent from three-point range and 71.4 percent at the free throw line. The Islanders shot 52.5 percent from the floor, 36.4 percent from beyond the arc, 69.7 percent at the charity stripe, and finished with more points off turnovers (20-13) than the Colonels. Despite the loss, Nicholls finished with more second chance points (12-9), more bench points (25-16), more assists (8-5) and dominated the battle of the boards (37-23).
 
McBeath led the Colonels in points (18), rebounds (10), assists (two) and blocks (one). Q. Thomas had a team-high three steals. Ja'Dante' Frye was second on the team in scoring with 11 points and contributed four rebounds.
 
Jordan led the offensive attack for Corpus Christi with team-highs in points (18) and assists (3). Currie paced the squad with five rebounds and Ehab Amin had a team-leading two steals.
 
Nicholls will host Sam Houston at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 20 in Stopher Gym before making the long drive to Conway for a 4 p.m. Saturday matchup with Central Arkansas. Both games will be broadcast live on KQKI 95.3 FM.
 
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