LAKE CHARLES, La. – Liam Thomas set the Nicholls State University men's basketball single-season blocks record on Saturday, and Quinton Thomas put forth a career performance off the bench, but the Colonels were unable snap a 16-game road losing streak as McNeese State earned a 71-69 overtime victory in a Southland Conference game with critical postseason implications.
 
With two seconds remaining in overtime, Jamaya Burr drove into the paint, lowered his shoulder to create space, and hit a game-winning fade-away jumper to cap off a breathtaking back-and-forth battle at Burton Coliseum.
 
L. Thomas recorded three blocks against the Cowboys (7-19, 5-11 SLC), bringing his season total to 63. L. Thomas surpassed the previous mark of 61, set by Ron Smith over the 1987-88 season.
 
With senior T.J. Carpenter out of the lineup, Q. Thomas received his first meaningful playing time in recent memory, and responded by shooting a perfect 3-for-3, while leading Nicholls (7-22, 3-12 SLC) in points (eight), rebounds (three), steals (two) and blocks (one) in the first period.
 
Despite the outstanding first-half effort, Q. Thomas didn't return to the floor until the 9:40 mark in the second period, but he immediately picked up where he left off. Q. Thomas grabbed an offensive rebound that resulted in a second-chance layup for Luka Kamber, and just 41 second later, Q. Thomas drilled a clutch three-point basket to tie the game at 46 apiece.
 
The teams traded baskets throughout the remainder of regulation, with the Colonels gaining a slight advantage. After a Schane Rillieux made layup at the 1:14 mark, Nicholls led 58-53.
 
Just when it looked like the Colonels had the victory in hand, McNeese was awarded two trips to the free throw line and sank three free throws to pull within two. Rillieux was whistled for his fifth foul during the sequence, leaving Nicholls without its top on-ball defender for the remainder of the contest.
 
The Cowboys intentionally fouled L. Thomas on the next possession, and he went 1-for-2 at the charity stripe, giving McNeese a breath of life with 16 seconds remaining.
 
Trailing by three, Burr drove the lane and was immediately surrounded by a gang of Colonels. Burr kicked the ball to an open Jarren Greenwood, who nailed a game-tying corner three, and sent the contest into overtime.
 
The Cowboys opened scoring in the extra period with a made free throw, but Q. Thomas punched back with a three-point bucket to recapture the lead. Burr immediately responded with a three-ball of his own, shifting the momentum back in the direction of McNeese, and after a Shaun Johnson three-pointer, the Cowboys led, 66-62.
 
McNeese appeared to be pulling away, but L. Thomas knocked down a shot from beyond the arc to cut the lead to one. Shaun Johnson gave the Cowboys a 67-65 lead with a made free throw, before Johnathan Bell tied things up on a put-back layup.
 
With 42 seconds remaining, James Harvey knocked down a pair of attempts at the charity stripe, giving McNeese a two-point lead, but L. Thomas countered with a made layup to tie the ballgame at 69 apiece, with 19 seconds remaining.
 
Burr subsequently hit the game-winner, and the Cowboys stole the ball on the inbounds to seal the win.
 
Nicholls shot 50% from the floor and 57.1% from three-point range, but hit only 57.9% of its opportunities at the charity stripe. The Colonels outrebounded the Cowboys, 40-34, but committed 23 turnovers that resulted in 19 points for McNeese.
 
Q. Thomas finished with career-highs in points (19) and board (seven), while shooting 7-of-10 from the floor and 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. In addition to setting the single-season blocks record, L. Thomas filled his stat sheet with 14 points, six rebounds, five assists and a steal. Rillieux played exceptional defense, and contributed seven points, three steals, three assists and two boards. Adam Ward and Kamber each totaled seven points and six rebounds, while Bell finished with six points, four boards and three assists.
 
Burr led McNeese with 20 points and four assists, while Craig McFerrin grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.
 
The Colonels will host the Privateers at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 29.
 
For the most up-to-date information on Nicholls basketball, visit geauxcolonels.com.