WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Nicholls State University men's basketball team made a season-high 16 3-pointers against No. 3 Purdue, but the Boilermakers used two double-digit scoring runs to build a sizable lead in the first half as the Colonels were defeated, 104-90, Wednesday night in Mackey Arena.
The teams combined for 30 3-pointers in the game with Purdue (12-1) connecting on 11 in the opening half, which helped fuel 20-0 and 10-0 runs. Nicholls (8-6) made five from long range in the early going for a 17-11 lead before the Boilermakers scored 20 straight to take control of the game. Purdue added the second run and went into the locker room with a 55-36 advantage.
Nicholls outscored Purdue in the second half, 54-49, but the 14-point final margin was the closest deficit.
Ty Gordon finished with a career-high 29 points and drained 9 of 15 from 3-point range. The nine made 3-pointers was not only a personal best, but it was the most ever by a player in Mackey Arena and the most by a single player against Purdue. He pushed his 20-plus scoring streak to seven games and upped his average to 21.0 points per game.
Playing against one of the best front courts in the nation, center
Ryghe Lyons also shined with a season-high 20 points to go along with seven rebounds, three blocks and three assists. It was the first double-digit scoring effort for Lyons this season and the second-most points scored in his career, falling three shy of his career high. Coming into the game with five career made 3-pointers, Lyons nailed all three of his attempts to help the Colonels to a 16 of 35 night from long range.
Latrell Jones also netted a season-high 18 points and
Manny Littles notched his third double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Purdue's 14 made 3-pointers came at a 48 percent clip. The Boilermakers were led in scoring by Zach Edey with 21 points and Jaden Ivey with 19.
With the loss, the Colonels fell to 0-14 all-time against the Big 10. In the other two Big 10 games under fourth-year head coach
Austin Claunch, Nicholls lost in overtime at Illinois and by three points at Wisconsin.
UP NEXT
Nicholls will take part in the Southland Tip-Off Tournament, opening the three-day event on Jan. 6 against UIW. Tipoff in the Merrell Center in Katy, Texas is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. All three games will be streamed on ESPN+.
