THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University men's basketball team erased a 14-point first-half deficit and sophomore guard
Kevin Johnson drained a runner in the final seconds to push the Colonels past Houston Baptist University, 77-76, Saturday at Stopher Gym.
"We did have a timeout but Kev just had it going," Nicholls head coach
Austin Claunch said. "He backpacked us. He was just able to get in there and create something for us kind of at will – whether it be spray it to somebody, create a shot for someone else or score."
Johnson finished with a team-high 19 points and six assists. The Thibodaux native concluded the final 14:17 with a 5-of-7 effort from the field and four assists.
"I said in the locker room it's just a culmination of a year and a half of coming in here and doing the right thing every single day. Being a Thibodaux kid, he means so much to this community. For him to sort of cap it off the way he did, you can't write a better ending than that," Claunch said.
The Colonels (10-7, 3-1 SLC) would shake off a sluggish start that consisted of two misses and two turnovers which led to an early 9-0 lead for the Huskies (5-9, 1-2 SLC). HBU's lead ballooned to 14 after Jackson Stent drilled a trey at the 12:57 mark.
Junior
Brandon Moore Jr. countered with a trey of his own that ignited a 12-2 Nicholls run, cutting the margin to four at 23-19. The Colonels used a six-point spurt later in the half to tie the game at 31. Huskies guard Ian DuBose then canned a three that started a 7-0 HBU run.
The Huskies also got off to a quick start in the second half, tallying 13 of the first 19 to rebuild the advantage to 11 at 52-41. Johnson netted a trey that commenced an 18-4 Colonels run as the home side grabbed its first lead at 59-56 with 8:56 to play.
The rest of the game consisted of six ties, the final one coming with 12 seconds left when DuBose converted a transition layup while being fouled. DuBose made the free throw. but Johnson dribbled all the way down the court and answered with the game-winner.
Graduate transfer
Jeremiah Jefferson and Moore Jr. chipped in 17 and 14 points, respectively. HBU received a game-high 29 points from Edward Hardt. DuBose added 17 and Braxton Bonds neared a double-double with 10 points and nine boards.
Nicholls will play seven of its next nine league games on the road, beginning with McNeese Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
Get your season or single-game tickets now by calling
985-448-4790 or visiting
nichollstickets.com. For the latest news on Nicholls men's basketball, follow the team on Twitter
@Nicholls_MBB.
