SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. - Ty Gordon scored 20 of his game-high 24 points in the second half, Devante Carter contributed with 20 points and Jalen White hit a pair of clutch 3-pointers in overtime as the Nicholls State University men's basketball team rallied for a 75-72 victory against Cal Poly in the opening game of the SoCal Challenge Monday afternoon in the JSerra Pavilion. 

Nicholls (4-2) fell behind by as much as 11 after halftime before the offense ignited with a game-changing 17-0 run. Gordon hit four of the Colonels' five 3-pointers during the four-minute stretch that gave the Colonels a 41-35 advantage seven minutes into the second half. Nicholls stayed ahead of Cal Poly (1-4) for the rest of regulation until Camren Pierce tied the game at 62 with a free throw with 19 seconds remaining. Gordon's hot streak let up as he missed a deep 3 for the game winner, sending the first-ever meeting between the programs into overtime. 

In the extra period, Carter did the heavy lifting early with the Colonels' first five points for a 67-66 lead. Cal Poly answered with a bucket before White canned his first 3-pointer in overtime. Mustang Julien Parker countered with a 3 for a 71-70 lead with a minute remaining and after Cal Poly added a free throw, White delivered again from downtown to put Nicholls back on top, 73-72. The Mustangs turned the ball over and Pierce Spencer converted on two free throws, then the Porter, Texas native blocked a 3-point attempt in the final seconds before one last 3 was short as the buzzer sounded.

Nicholls could not find its stroke in the opening half, shooting 26 percent from the field and 2 of 13 from 3-point range. The ice cold shooting led to a 27-21 deficit at the break. But the defense kept the Red and Gray into it with six steals off of nine Mustang turnovers. The Colonels racked up 11 steals in the win, getting three each from Gordon and Carter as the duo helped Cal Poly to 18 miscues. 

The second half was a different story on the offensive end as Nicholls shot 53 percent and made 7 of 13 from 3-point range. Gordon finished 10 of 21 from the field and 4 of 11 from downtown, while Carter was 8 of 14 overall en route to his season-high 20 points. Pierce led the Colonels with eight rebounds.

Cal Poly was paced on offense Alimamy Koroma with 23 points. He was one of four Mustangs to score in double figures.

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With the win, Nicholls will square off against Utah Valley on Wednesday with tipoff scheduled for 4:30 central. Utah Valley advanced to the championship game of the Sand Bracket with a dominating 83-45 win over Idaho Monday evening. The game will stream live on FloHoops.