KATY, Texas - The Nicholls State University men's basketball team received a career-high 20 points from
Pierce Spencer as the Colonels defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 84-75, in the Southland Tip-Off Event semifinals Friday night in the Merrell Center.
Spencer helped ignite a decisive 19-6 run to close out the first half, hitting three of the Colonels' four 3-pointers during the stretch to give Nicholls a 46-31 lead at the half.
Caleb Huffman sank the other and finished the night with 18 points off the bench.
Devante Carter also scored in double figures with 17 and
Latrell Jones added 14.
Despite the big lead at the break, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (12-4) climbed back to make it a two-point game with their own run, outscoring Nicholls (10-6) 17-4 in the opening seven minutes of the second half. But Nicholls would never surrender the lead.
Freshman
Ryan Maxwell ended the run with a strong finish inside to double the advantage. Then with the score 59-57, Jones drilled a 3-pointer around the eight-minute mark.
Nicholls stayed ahead and Jones helped preserve the lead with two blocks on the same possession, leading to a pair of Huffman free throws and a 69-63 lead.
With just over two minutes remaining, Spencer all but put the game away with his fifth 3-pointer of the night. The Islanders were forced to foul the rest of the way and Nicholls capitalized, making a season-high 21 of 29 at the free throw line.
Heading into the matchup as the league's top scoring offense, A&M-Corpus Christi was held to 39 percent from the field and had 18 turnovers. Trevian Tennyson led all scorers with 23 points on 8 of 16 from the field.
Nicholls finished at 50 percent shooting overall and had a one rebound advantage on the boards. Spencer led with eight rebounds while Carter added three steals.
UP NEXT
Nicholls will take on rival Southeastern for the inaugural Tip-Off championship. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
