THIBODAUX, La. – Loyola threw its best punch at the Nicholls State University basketball team on Saturday, leading with less than eight minutes remaining in the game, but the Colonels switched gears and captured an 89-74 victory at Stopher Gym.
 
Nicholls (3-3) jumped on top of the Wolf Pack (4-3) early, scoring the first seven points of the ballgame. Loyola responded with a 14-4 run, capturing a three-point lead at the 11:33 mark. The Colonels punched back with a 14-7 run to secure their first double-digit advantage, at 28-18. Nicholls took a 48-40 lead into the break.
 
The Colonels led, 63-55, midway through the second period, but the Wolf Pack roared back with a 13-2 tear. Loyola led, 68-65, with just under seven minutes remaining in the contest, but Nicholls outscored the Wolf Pack 24-6 over the remainder of the game to pull away.
 
The Colonels finished the game with a 28-18 advantage on points off turnovers, a 27-15 edge on bench points, a 46-40 margin on points in the paint and a 42-35 rebounding edge. Nicholls shot 50.8% from the floor and 29.6% from three-point range, while holding Loyola to 40.9% from the field and 26.3% from beyond the arc.
 
Three Colonels flirted with double-doubles in the complete team win. Ja'Dante' Frye finished with 22 points and 9 boards, T.J. Carpenter tallied 19 points and nine rebounds and Liam Thomas contributed 12 points and eight boards. Schane Rillieux turned in team-highs in assists (eight) and steals (four), while Carpenter, Frye and Liam Thomas finished with five, three and two assists respectively. Frye and Liam Thomas also totaled two blocks apiece. Johnathan Bell earned 10 points and three rebounds off the bench.
 
Jalen Gray led the Wolf Pack offense with 28 points and five assists, while adding five steals on the defensive end. Johnny Griffin Jr. turned in a 22-point, 13 board double-double effort in the loss.
 
The Colonels will fly to California for a date with San Diego St. at 9 p.m. central time on Thursday, Dec. 10. Nicholls will then head to North Texas for the first game of an 11-day road swing.
 
For the most up-to-date information on Nicholls basketball, visit geauxcolonels.com.