THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University basketball team found itself trailing at halftime, 34-30, to a hot Mobile squad, but a strong second-half surge powered the Red and Grey to an 80-58 victory on Thursday night at Stopher Gym.
 
The Colonels (1-1) came out ice cold in the opening frame, but emerged the locker room a different team, outscoring the Rams, 50-24, over the final 20 minutes of play.
 
Nicholls shot an abysmal 28.6 percent from the floor, 11.1 percent from three-point range and 56.6 percent at the free throw line in the first half, but trailed by only four points at the break. The Colonels kept themselves in the game by taking care of the ball, forcing turnovers and repeatedly drawing fouls with aggressive drives to the basket. In the first period, Nicholls forced 13 Ram turnovers, while committing only six. The Colonels also took 23 free throws, compared to only nine by Mobile.
 
Only two minutes into the second half, Ja'Dante' Frye tied the game at 38 apiece with a driving layup. Nicholls traded baskets with the Rams, gradually building a five-point lead at the 10:01 mark. The Colonels owned the final ten minutes, shutting the door on Mobile with a 28-5 run to close out the game.
 
Nicholls' shooting was much improved in the second period, at 45 percent from the floor.
 
The Colonels finished the night with a 44-30 advantage on points in the paint, a 13-4 margin on second-chance points and most significantly, a 33-8 edge on points off turnovers.
 
Frye led Nicholls with team-highs in points (21), rebounds (10) and steals (three), turning in his first career double-double. Frye's 10 boards were a career-high. Schane Rillieux dished out four assists to pace the team. Luka Kamber totaled 15 points, just one off of his career-high. Liam Thomas contributed 11 points, while Johnathan Bell turned in an eight-point, five-rebound performance.
 
James Davis (18 points), Dominique Lawrence (six boards) and D.J. Hill (five assists) led the Rams.
 
The Colonels will make a 4,200-mile flight over the Pacific Ocean to face Hawaii at 12:30 a.m. CT on Monday in Honolulu, before heading to Albuquerque for a matchup with New Mexico at 8 p.m. CT on Wednesday.
 
For the most up-to-date information on Nicholls men's basketball, visit geauxcolonels.com.