MORAGA, Calif. -- In the fifth and final contest of a seven-day Bay Area tour, the Nicholls State University men's basketball program (2-3, 0-0 SLC) failed to offensively challenge mid-major power Saint Mary's (3-1, 0-0 WCC), faltering to the host Gaels by a 73-50 mark at UCU Pavilion in Moraga, Calif.

After two solid victories to open the season at the Bronco Invitational this past week, the Colonels have fallen into a shooting rut in each of their past three matchups, averaging just north of 32 percent (60-of-186) from the floor along with just 52 points per game. The Red & Gray have also struggled to fight their way to the free throw line, earning 26 attempts over the same three-game span compared to 52 in the opening pair of games alone.

KEY STORYLINES & STATISTICS
-- For the game, Nicholls finished shooting 35.6 percent (21-of-59) from the field, 33.3 percent (6-of-18) at the three point line and 66.7 percent (2-of-3) from the charity stripe.
-- Individually, senior Shawn Williams managed to lead the Colonels on the scoreboard for the first time this season, sinking a triple as regulation expired to improve to an 11-point stat line. Notably, the Arkansas native shot 50 percent from both the field (4-of-8) and beyond the arc (3-of-6), a team-best in each category.
-- The redshirt junior duo of Ty Gordon and Najee Garvin continued to serve as the core of the Red & Gray attack, as the pair each posted 10 points in the effort.
-- On the glass, senior Ryghe Lyons pulled down a team-high six boards while also dishing out three assists and contributing two points and a pair of steals.

UP NEXT
With the five-game, seven-day Bay Area tour concluded, the Colonels received a well-deserved week hiatus before hitting the road once again on Dec. 8, traveling west to Waco, Texas for a non-conference matchup at No. 2 Baylor.

STAY SOCIAL
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