HOUSTON  –   Seniors Johnathan Bell and Ja'Dante' Frye scored 21 points each and Jahvaughn Powell recorded his first career double-double, but the Nicholls State University men's basketball team was unable to hang on to an eight-point second-half lead against Houston Baptist University in a 83-80 setback Thursday night in Sharp Gym.
 
With the loss, Nicholls slipped to under .500 on the season at 10-11 and 3-5 in Southland play. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for HBU (8-11, 4-5).
 
Nicholls shot just 38 percent in the second half after knocking down 52 percent in the first to lead 45-40 at the break. The Colonels were able to make shots inside, finishing with 34 points in the paint, but struggled from 3-point range at 8 of 32.  The long rebounds helped HBU to a significant plus-19 margin and a four-point advantage in second chance points, which turned out to be the difference in the game.
 
Frye had a solid night from the field, connecting on 9 of 15 and was 3 of 6 from behind the arc. Bell went 9 of 19 and Powell scored 11 points and dished out a career-high 10 assists. In his first game back since Dec. 1, Lafayette Rutledge drained three 3-pointers in the first half, but he and Powell combined to make just 1 of 10 from long range after the intermission.  
 
Nicholls saw its largest lead at 54-46 when Bell sank a jumper at the 16:18 mark of the second half, but HBU clawed back with a 9-0 run to go ahead. The run continued over the next six minutes as Alex Fountain slammed one down for a 71-60 lead.
 
The Colonels answered as Bell and Frye combined for 12 points to bring Nicholls within one. Liam Thomas then sank a pair of free throws to give the Colonels a 74-73 advantage with four minutes remaining.
 
In the final two minutes, Powell put Nicholls on top with a 3-pointer, but Reveal Chukwujekwu tied it up at 78 with a putback. The Colonels then turned it over, leading to a deep 3-pointer by Chukwujekwu with 41 seconds to go.
 
Nicholls came up empty on its next two 3-pointers, but Frye corralled the ball and scored with 2 ticks left on the clock. The Colonels immediately fouled and after two HBU free throws that made it 83-80, a desperation heave on the inbounds was intercepted to end the game.
 
Nicholls had no answer inside for Chukwujekwu, who scored a game-high 23 points on 8-of-10 shooting and finished with 11 rebounds. Thomas, the nation's leading shot blocker, was limited to 21 minutes due to foul trouble before fouling out for the first time this season.
 
The Colonels will return home for their next contest as they host McNeese Saturday night (Jan. 28) at 6:30 p.m. For tickets, please visit geauxcolonels.com.