DENTON, Texas – The Nicholls State University basketball team fell behind by 15 points midway through the opening period and never recovered. North Texas maintained a double-digit lead for the remainder of the game and held on on for a 78-60 win at The Super Pit on Monday night.
 
Poor shooting and less-than-aggressive rebounding by the Colonels (3-5) in the first half allowed the Mean Green (3-7) to build a sizeable advantage over the first 10 minutes.
 
Nicholls shot 28.6% from the floor, 30% from three-point range and 50% from the free throw line in the opening frame, while allowing North Texas to earn a 25-17 edge on the boards. The Mean Green took a 41-22 lead into halftime.
 
The Colonels improved their shooting and kept the rebounding battle much closer in the second period, but the damage was already done.
 
The North Texas victory snapped a seven-game UNT losing streak and gave the Mean Green their first Division I win of the season.
 
T.J. Carpenter recorded his first double-double of the season, with 18 points and a career-high 11 boards in the loss. Carpenter also led Nicholls with in assists, with three. Ja'Dante' Frye and Luka Kamber each contributed 11 points, while Frye and Adam Ward paced the squad with two steals apiece.
 
Jeremy Combs totaled 19 points and eight rebounds to lead North Texas, while J-Mychal Reese and Ja'Michael Brown each contributed a team-high four assists.
 
The schedule won't get any easier for the Colonels as they head to Dallas for a meeting with their most formidable opponent yet, No. 18 SMU. Nicholls will face the undefeated Mustangs at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, live on ESPN3.
 
For the most up-to-date information on Nicholls basketball, visit geauxcolonels.com.