NEW ORLEANS - A career-high 25 points by Pierce Spencer was not enough for the Nicholls State University men's basketball team as the Colonels were defeated at New Orleans, 78-66, in the teams' Southland Conference opener Saturday evening at Lakefront Arena.

With the loss, Nicholls fell to 10-8 overall and 0-1 in league play. New Orleans notched its fourth consecutive victory to improve to 8-8 and 1-0, and also snapped a four-game skid in the series.

Nicholls trailed 37-32 at the break and could never regain the lead or tie the score, despite cutting the deficit to one on four different occasions. Devante Carter scored to make it 55-53 with just under 10 minutes remaining, but UNO outscored the Colonels 10-0 over the next four minutes to essentially put the game out of reach. 

Spencer had a solid all-around effort, adding seven rebounds and four steals to go along with his 25 points. It marked the second time in the last three outings that he has scored 20. Playing in his first game since Dec. 29 at Purdue, Ty Gordon also reached double figures in scoring with 11 points. Carter and Ryghe Lyons had eight points each, and Lyons swatted away five shots. 

UNO was led by the tandem of Troy Green (26 points) and Derek St. Hilaire (23 points). Green did most of his damage at the free throw line, connecting on 15 of 16.

Nicholls could not find its stroke outside, making just 5 of 24 from 3-point range. Spencer accounted for three of the 3-pointers on eight attempts while Gordon finished 1 of 8. 

UP NEXT
Nicholls will open up its home portion of its conference schedule against Northwestern State on Thursday, Jan. 20. Tipoff in Stopher Gym is scheduled for 7 p.m.