BOX SCORE
THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University basketball team came out explosive in Monday's exhibition against Arkansas-Monticello, leading by as many as 23 points, and cruising to a 93-81 victory at Stopher Gym.
The 93 points scored by the Red and Grey is the highest point total for the program in any game since Jan. 17, 2013.
The Colonels stunned the Weevils out of the gate with a 13-2 run over the first five minutes. Arkansas-Monticello quickly responded, cutting Nicholls' advantage to just three points, but the Colonels regained the momentum, and pushed their lead to 45-31, at the break.
Nicholls shot a blazing 65.4 percent from the floor and 60 percent from beyond the arc in the first half.
T.J. Carpenter led the way with 15 points in the opening frame on 6-of-7 shooting, including 3-of-4 from three-point range.
Luka Kamber and
Ja'Dante' Frye took over offensively for the Colonels after halftime. Kamber caught fire with 15 second-half points, shooting 4-of-5 from beyond the arc and added six free throws to finish with 18 points. Frye scored 11 of his 15 points in the second period, and secured a team-leading nine boards, narrowly missing a double-double.
Nicholls secured its largest advantage after a
Schane Rillieux layup at the 13:04 mark of the second frame. Rillieux's score put the Colonels up, 67-44. The Weevils desperately fought back, pulling within 10 points after a Tyler Davis three-pointer, but the outcome was never in doubt.
The Colonels shot 62.5 percent for the game, while holding Arkansas-Monticello to 42.9 percent. In similar fashion, Nicholls finished with a blistering 55 percent from three-point range, and kept the Weevils in check at just 25 percent. The Colonels outrebounded Arkansas-Monticello 36-23 in the game, including a 29-14 advantage on defensive boards. Nicholls assisted on 23 of its 30 field goals on the night.
Kamber (18 points), Carpenter (17 points) and Frye (15 points) led the way offensively for the Colonels. Rillieux dished out a team-high 10 assists and added eight points in his first game back from a season-ending injury in last year's season-opening exhibition against Mobile.
Liam Thomas finished with nine points and eight rebounds, while
Quinton Thomas totaled eight points for Nicholls.
Adam Ward and
Tre O'Neal each contributed seven points in the win.
Vicktor Arnick (17 points), Andrew Brown (four boards) and Brandon Scott (three assists) led the way for the Weevils.
The Colonels next head to Tallahassee for a date with Florida State at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov.15. Nicholls returns home for a matchup with Mobile on Thursday, Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m.
For the most up-to-date information on Nicholls men's basketball, visit geauxcolonels.com.
