BOULDER, Colo. – The Nicholls State University basketball team led by as many as 10 points and maintained a lead for the majority of the night on Friday, but a late surge by Colorado lifted the Buffaloes past the Colonels, 85-68.
 
With 16 minutes remaining in the contest, Nicholls (3-7) held a 45-43 advantage on Colorado (9-1), but the Buffaloes shifted gears and closed out the game on a 42-23 run, to pull away over the final minutes.
 
Ja'Dante' Frye drilled a fade-away jumper in the paint to open the game. The play ignited the Colonels, who played inspired basketball, particularly in the first half. The Buffaloes countered with eight straight points, before T.J. Carpenter silenced the crowd with a three-point bucket.
 
After a George King dunk at the 16:46 mark, Colorado held a seven-point lead, but Nicholls responded in a big way. The Colonels used a 13-0 run over the next three minutes to jump out to a six-point advantage.
 
Just when it looked like the Buffaloes were recapturing the momentum, Quinton Thomas flushed a monster put-back dunk that gave Nicholls a seven-point advantage with just over four minutes remaining in the half. The teams traded baskets until the 2:00 mark, when Q. Thomas drilled his second deep-ball to give the Colonels their largest lead of the game, 38-28.
 
Colorado chipped away over the final two minutes of the period, and a Thomas Akyazili jumper with 33 second remaining brought the score to 38-33, at the break.
 
Nicholls shot 50% from the floor and 50% from three-point range in the first half, while holding the Buffaloes to just 38.7% from the field and 20% from three-point land. The Colonels dished out 11 assists, compared to only six for Colorado, and kept the rebounding battle close, with the Buffaloes earning a 22-20 edge.
 
Nicholls came out with intensity in the second half, forcing a turnover and finishing with a Carpenter fast-break layup on the other end. Colorado ran off seven straight to tie the ballgame, before Tre O'Neal bulled his way into the paint for a layup to recapture the lead with 16:17 left to play.
 
The Buffaloes used a 10-1 run to secure a seven-point advantage with just under 13 minutes remaining, but the Colonels responded with back-to-back threes from Johnathan Bell to pull within a point.
 
Colorado found its shot over the final 10 minutes, gradually pulling away for the win.
 
Nicholls was held to 33.3% shooting from the floor in the second period and 28.6% from three-point range. The Buffaloes shot 62.1% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc over the final 20 minutes.
 
The Colonels finished with a 13-7 edge on steals, a 19-17 advantage on points off turnovers and a 26-24 edge on bench points. Colorado earned a 17-7 advantage on fast break points, a 42-30 edge on points in the paint and won the battle of the boards, 45-30.
 
Carpenter led Nicholls in points (18) and rebounds (seven), while Frye contributed 16 points and four boards. O'Neal put forth his most complete performance of the season, recording four assists, four points, three rebounds and three steals. The Denver native had nearly 30 family members and friends in attendance, including his mentor, NBA champion Chauncey Billups. Q. Thomas scored a season-high eight points and Schane Rillieux filled the stat sheet with seven points, three boards and three assists. Bell turned in seven points and four rebounds on the night.
 
Josh Scott (20 points), Tory Miller (10 boards), Wesley Gordon (seven blocks) and Dominique Collier (five assists) led the Buffaloes.
 
Nicholls will fly to Nevada to face Hampton at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, in the first of two games in Las Vegas. The Colonels will play their second contest on Wednesday, with the time and opponent to be determined at the conclusion of Tuesday's action.
 
For the most up-to-date information on Nicholls basketball, visit geauxcolonels.com.