THIBODAUX, La. – Senior guard
Tevon Saddler totaled a game-high 23 points as the Nicholls State University men's basketball squad dominated during a 91-61 win over Texas A&M – Corpus Christi Tuesday night at Stopher Gymnasium.
"I was proud of our focus to start the game," Nicholls head coach
Richie Riley said. "In the middle we had some dips where we lost our focus and that's easy to do sometimes when you have a lead. I was proud of how we finished. Midway through the second half, we really made a push where we were able to stretch the lead out."
The Colonels are 6-1 in league play, marking the first such record through the first seven games since the 1997-98 season. The red and gray are currently in first place in the Southland as New Orleans (5-1) faces UCA Wednesday.
Nicholls outscored the Islanders (4-12, 1-5 SLC) 20-4 in fast-break points and 30-12 off the bench while forcing 26 turnovers, which ties the most by a SLC opponent this season. Corpus Christi was held to 36-percent shooting, including 21 percent from long range.
Other double-figure scorers for the Colonels included seniors Javaughn Powell (14) and
Lafayette Rutledge (14), freshman
Kevin Johnson (14) and senior
Roddy Peters (11).
Back-to-back triples by Rutledge gave the Colonels an early 19-6 advantage; a lead that ballooned to as much as 16 in the first half after four straight free throws made it 36-20 at the 3:21 mark.
Nicholls tallied 13 of the first 15 points to open the second half, increasing its margin to 26. The Colonels put the game away after seven- and nine-point spurts took the count to 71-39 as Peters and Saddler accumulated 11 second-half points each.
"We have to do a good job of using every single day that we have to get better," Riley said. "I keep telling our guys, 'The reason we are playing well right now is because of how we practice.' Young kids think you come in and it's about these 40 minutes - and that's where a winner or loser is decided. But the real winner or loser is decided in those days of practice leading up. Our guys have bought into the idea of preparing, and that's really changed within our team especially once conference play started."
Nicholls will have seven days away from competition, traveling to face Lamar on Wednesday, Jan. 24.
Get your season or single game tickets now by calling
985-448-4790 or visiting
nichollstickets.com. To stay up to date with Nicholls men's basketball, follow the team on Twitter
@Nicholls_MBB.
