BATON ROUGE, La. -- Despite a 25-day off-period due to COVID-19 protocol, the Nicholls State University men's basketball program (2-4, 0-0 SLC) composed a highly-competitive return to the hardwood against in-state power LSU (5-1, 0-0 SEC), nearly knocking off the host Tigers by a 86-80 mark at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, La.

The Red & Gray managed to hang around throughout the entirety of the contest, even pulling back within five with under a minute remaining in regulation with a chance to cut the game to one possession.

Notably, LSU maintained some form of a lead starting at the 17:07 mark in the first half, but a consistent attack by the Colonels never allowed the Tigers to grow that advantage beyond 11 points; in fact, Nicholls created numerous opportunities to tie the score, closing the gap to three on five occasions in the second half alone.

KEY STORYLINES & STATISTICS
-- For the game, Nicholls finished shooting 45.7 percent (32-of-70) from the floor, 22.9 percent (8-of-35) from beyond the arc and 57.1 percent (8-of-14) at the free throw line.
-- Individually, redshirt senior Damien Sears posted a breakout performance in the near-upset, notching a career-high 20 points (previously 12 points) along with nine rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals. Specifically, the St. John's transfer shined late in the contest, racking up six of the Red & Gray's final 11 points.
-- Meanwhile, senior Jeremiah Buford notched a clutch showing in his first start of the year, dropping a season-best 14 points behind a 4-of-11 display from long range while leading the team with five assists. Notably, the Georgia native's final three -- a staggered jumper from the right wing -- pulled Nicholls back within five with 42 seconds left.
-- Redshirt junior Ty Gordon put up yet another solid game for the Colonels, scoring 12 points while dishing out four assists and grabbing five boards.
-- Of specific note, junior Anquaevious Pollard earned his first minutes donning the Red & Gray as the JUCO transfer also notched his Division I collegiate debut. The Alabama native put in a memorable performance across just eight minutes on the hardwood, collecting seven points and one rebound.

UP NEXT
Following the tight loss at LSU in the program's sixth-consecutive road game, the Red & Gray shift focus to a back-to-back home-opening stretch against Paul Quinn College, squaring off against the Tigers on Dec. 27 & 28 at Stopher Gym.

STAY SOCIAL
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