BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Nicholls State University men's basketball team turned in its best defensive effort of the early season as the Colonels defeated Bethune Cookman, 76-69, Friday afternoon in the San Diego Classic at the Pete Hanna Center.
 
Nicholls, which improved to 3-3, held Bethune-Cookman (2-4) to 38 percent shooting from the field and forced 18 turnovers, while recording a season-high 11 steals and 10 blocks. Four of the steals came from DeAndre Harris, who came off the bench for a team-high 21 points, and Liam Thomas swatted away seven shots to fall one short of tying his own single-game program record.
 
The Colonels trailed only once in the contest, which came in the first five minutes of the game, and held a 43-34 advantage at the break. The lead grew to as much as 16 in the second half before the Wildcats used a 10-run to make it a four-point game with 50 seconds remaining. Nicholls ended any hopes of a comeback by going 6-for-6 at the free throw line to close out the victory.
 
Nicholls shot 50 percent from the field and made 8-of-19 from 3-point range. Stevie Repichowski (12 points) led the assault from deep, knocking down 4-for-8 and his first made 3 gave the Colonels the lead for good at 8-6.
 
Harris connected of 2-for-3 from behind the arc and finished 6-of-11 from the field. Joining the scoring leaders were Johnathan Bell with 13 points, Jahvaughn Powell (12) and Thomas (10). Powell dished out seven assists as the Colonels recorded 16 on 27 made field goals.
 
Defensively, the Colonels turned their pressure into easy baskets as they outscored the Wildcats, 21-4, in fast break points. Powell contributed with three steals and Ja'Dante' Frye (8 points) added two.
 
Brandon Tabb scored a game-high 25 points for Bethune-Cookman, but shot just 10-of-27 from the field. Reggie Baker (18 points) also had a tough showing from the field at 8-of-19. Thomas, who entered the season as the Colonels' all-time leader in blocked shots, played a huge role in the Wildcats' shooting woes with his seven blocks.
 
Nicholls will close out play in the San Diego Classic with a Sunday night matchup at Samford. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game can be listened to on ESPN Radio New Orleans 100.3 FM.