THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University men's basketball team set the school record with 11 blocks in a dominant defensive performance against in-state rival New Orleans. Liam Thomas anchored the Colonel defense and T.J. Carpenter paced the Nicholls offense as the squad kept its postseason hopes alive with an 80-76 win over the Privateers on Monday night in Stopher Gym.
 
With the victory, the Colonels (8-22, 4-12 SLC) will still need to win out, and have McNeese, New Orleans or Northwestern State lose their remaining games, to clinch a spot at the Southland Conference Tournament.
 
While Carpenter had an all-around outstanding performance, it was L. Thomas who stole the show against the Privateers (9-18, 5-11 SLC). L. Thomas recorded a school record eight blocks, while passing the mark for career blocks in the process. With his 149^th career block, L. Thomas bested the previous record of 146, set by Cedric Robinson, who played for Nicholls from 1982 to 1986.
 
Trailing New Orleans by five with just over five minutes remaining in the game, Carpenter nailed a three-point basket to pull the Colonels within a possession. Less than a minute later, Quinton Thomas intercepted a New Orleans' inbounds pass sprinted for a thunderous breakaway dunk to tie the game at 68 apiece.
 
The Privateers drew a foul and converted a pair of free throws, but Adam Ward answered with a put-back dunk to notch the game at 70. New Orleans drew another foul on the ensuing possession, and went 1-for-2 at the charity stripe, before L. Thomas slammed home a put-back dunk on the other end to give Nicholls the lead.
 
Christavious Gill responded with a fast-break layup and was fouled on the play. Gill converted on the and-one opportunity to put the Privateers up, 74-72, but Q. Thomas immediately punched back with a deep-ball to recapture the lead.
 
The teams traded baskets, and with only 25 seconds remaining, New Orleans was forced to intentionally. Schane Rillieux stepped to the line and sank two clutch free throws to give Nicholls a three-point advantage.
 
Full-court pressure by the Colonels resulted in a Privateers turnover, and New Orleans was again forced to foul. A Q. Thomas free throw made it a two-possession game, and two desperation threes by the Privateers fell short, as the Colonels held on for the win.
 
Nicholls shot 53.3% from the floor, including 60.0% over the final 20 minutes, while holding New Orleans to just 46.3% on the night. The Colonels earned a 44-28 edge on points in the paint, won the battle of the boards, 34-30, and converted 13 offensive rebounds into 15 second-chance points.
 
The Privateers grabbed an early 5-0 lead on Monday, but Nicholls responded to tie the game at nine apiece. The teams traded baskets over a back-and-forth opening half, and with 3:59 remaining, the teams were notched at 31. New Orleans closed the period on an 8-3 run, and took a 39-34 advantage into the break.
 
Carpenter led the Colonels in points (15), rebounds (seven) and assists (three), while connecting on a game-high four three-pointers. Ja'Dante' Frye scored 13 points, to go along with three boards and two assists. Rillieux finished with 12 points, while contributing two assists, one rebound and one steal. Ward scored 11 points, while registering four boards, two assists and two blocks. L. Thomas earned 10 points, six rebounds, one assists and one steal, to go along with his career night in blocks. Q. Thomas finished with eight points, three boards, two steals and an assist.
 
The Privateers had four players score in double-figures, led by Gill's 19. Nate Frye paced the squad with three assists and three steals, while Travin Thibodeaux grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.

The Colonels will next travel to Conway for a 7 p.m. date with Central Arkansas on Thursday, before returning to Thibodaux for a Senior Day matchup against Southeastern La. at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.
 
For the most up-to-date information on Nicholls basketball, visit geauxcolonels.com.