NATCHITOCHES, La. – Graduate transfer Gavin Peppers notched a career-high 24 points to lift the Nicholls State University men's basketball squad to a 78-72 win over Northwestern State Wednesday night in its conference opener at Prather Coliseum.

"Those guys earned it," said Nicholls head coach Austin Claunch, who picked up his first career league win. "I just told them that's a culmination of months of work. It's a group of guys that came together – only three returners, a couple of fifth-year guys, a couple of JuCo guys – and have just really bought in to what it's going to take to be a successful team."

Peppers drained two early long-range attempts as the Colonels (8-6, 1-0 SLC) grabbed an 11-4 edge. Nicholls held the Demons (5-9, 0-1) to just one make in their first 13 attempts, but the opposition scored 15 of its first-half points from the charity stripe as the Colonels were whistled for 13 fouls despite a 43-38 advantage at the break. Peppers drained 7-of-11 first-half attempts, including a career-high five triples.

Nicholls withstood a 12-1 Northwestern State run in the second half that saw the Demons take their first lead of the game at 56-52 with 10:49 to play. The two sides went back and forth until the Colonels broke a 64-point deadlock by tallying five straight. NSU responded with its own five-point spurt that put the contest at 69 apiece.

The Demons then fouled Peppers, one of the best free throw shooters in the country, who easily knocked down both after being hip-checked while trying to cross the half-court line. After Nicholls forced two misses on the opponent's next possession, graduate transfer Jeremiah Jefferson stole the ball and converted a coast-to-coast layup to seal the win. The Colonels did not make a 3-pointer in the second half but converted 13-of-16 free throws, which included a period of 10 straight.

Junior Brandon Moore Jr. collected his third double-double, totaling 16 points and a career-best 13 boards. Jefferson finished with just 11 points but made a difference passing the ball as he recorded a career-high six assists.

NSU received a team-high 14 points and nine rebounds from Ishmael Lane.

Nicholls returns to action Saturday, battling UIW at the McDermott Center at 7 p.m.

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.