BEAUMONT, Texas -- In yet-another notable second half performance, redshirt senior Dexter McClanahan managed to shrug off an 0-of-9 start before finishing with a team-high 17 points -- including four field goals from beyond the arc -- leading the Nicholls State University men's basketball program (10-6, 4-1 Southland) past a resilient Lamar (8-8, 2-3 Southland) squad Wednesday night at the Montagne Center.

Oppositely, fellow transfer and redshirt junior Andre Jones completed a perfectly even showing across both halves, posting eight points in each period (16 total) along with a career-high seven steals and squad-best three assists. Overall, the Red & Gray fought off a number of pushes from a crowd-backed Cardinals squad, enduring 11 lead changes throughout the contest along with seven ties.

KEY STORYLINES & STATISTICS
-- For the game, Nicholls finished shooting 39.0 percent (23-of-59) from the field, 33.3 percent (7-of-21) beyond the arc and 61.5 percent (8-of-13) at the free throw line.
-- As a program, the win marked the first victory for the Colonels in Beaumont since Jan. 2018. On that note, the 4-1 start to Southland competition marks the Colonels' best league push since the 2017-18 campaign (regular season conference champions), where the team kicked off conference play behind a staggering 7-1 record.
-- As has become custom, sophomore Warith Alatishe paced the Red & Gray on the glass (seven boards) while McClanahan led the way on the scoreboard (17), good for the 11th and seventh times this season, respectively.
-- Despite just five minutes on the floor, senior Brandon Moore Jr. notched seven points on a perfect 3-of-3 from the field, including one from downtown.
-- Junior Jeremiah Buford picked up his second consecutive start of the season after entering the lineup for the first time this year against Sam Houston State on Saturday.
-- For the first time since Jan. 19, 2019, second-year head coach Austin Claunch owns a career record over .500 (24-23). Coincidentally, a 90-69 home loss to Lamar on Jan. 30, 2019 dropped the Houston native to a 10-11 overall mark, the fourth loss of a 1-8 slump midway through his first season at the helm.

UP NEXT
The Red & Gray close out their first major Southland roadtrip with yet another key matchup, taking a short trek north to Hammond, La. for a battle against rival Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday, Jan. 11.

STAY SOCIAL
For more information on Colonels Men's Basketball, follow the team on Twitter (@Nicholls_MBB), Instagram (@geauxcolonels) and like their Facebook page (Nicholls Athletics).