HIGHLIGHTS

THIBODAUX, La. – The trio of Ja'Dante' Frye, DeAndre Harris and Jahvaughn Powell combined for 48 points as the Nicholls State University men's basketball team held off Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for a 68-64 victory Monday night at Stopher Gym.
 
The win kept the Colonels (9-6) undefeated at home this season at 6-0, pushed their winning streak to four games and most important, gave them a 2-0 start in Southland play. The Colonels, who were picked to finish last in the Southland, will have a date with preseason favorite Sam Houston State next Saturday (Jan. 7) to start a three-game road trip.
 
Frye led the Colonel offense with 18 points and grabbed six rebounds. Harris, the Southland's reigning player of the week, scored 16 points and Powell hit 4 of 6 from behind the arc and netted 14 points.
 
Nicholls led for a large portion of the game, including a 31-28 lead at the half, but Rashawn Thomas (19 points, 12 rebounds) helped cut the Colonels' lead to three with 2:17 left. Nicholls led by 10 after Powell hit his fourth triple of the night with 4:26 to go before Thomas' bucket inside made it a one-possession game at 67-64.
 
The Colonels came up with some big stops on defense down the stretch and Johnathan Bell hit the first of two free throws with 14.9 seconds left to stretch the lead to four points. The Islanders elected to go for two points, but came up empty and Nicholls was able to run out the final seconds for the win.
 
Nicholls had a huge advantage at the charity stripe, making 19 of 23 for 82 percent. Despite only having six more fouls, the Islanders made just four trips to the line.
 
The teams combined for 30 turnovers and were deadlocked on the boards, 30-30. Despite both teams shooting well from the field overall, the Islanders made just 3 of 17 from behind the arc.
 
A&M-Corpus Christ started the game with a 20-10 lead, but Nicholls held them scoreless for a five-minute stretch during a 13-0 run. The Islanders then scored the first two buckets of the second half to regain the lead, 34-32, before Powell sank back-to-back 3-pointers to give Nicholls the lead for good.
 
Along with Thomas, Ehab Amin led the Islanders with a game-high 25 points and added seven rebounds, five assists and five steals.
 
For the latest news on Nicholls men's basketball, follow the team on Twitter @Nicholls_MBB.