LARAMIE, Wyo. - The Nicholls State University men's basketball team used a combined 40 points from
Micah Thomas and
Marek Nelson to keep pace with Wyoming, but the Cowboys took advantage of a 34-5 discrepancy at the free throw line to hand the Colonels a 79-68 loss Thursday night at the Arena-Auditorium.
Both teams shot 42 percent from the game and around 30 percent from 3-point range, but Nicholls (0-2) could not find its way to the free throw line with only five attempts; however, did convert on all five. Wyoming (2-0) connected on 23 of 34 from the charity stripe to improve to 2-0 at home this season.
For the second time in as many games, Thomas cracked the 20-point plateau with a game-high 22 points and was again efficient from the field, knocking down 9 of 12 overall and 4 of 5 from 3-point range. The Indiana State transfer is shooting 77.3 percent in the Colonels' two games and is 8 of 9 from behind the arc.
Nelson netted 14 of his 18 points in the second half and finished 8 of 13 from the field. Nelson also chipped in with four steals and two blocks.
Wyoming used an early 15-0 run to take command of the game and went into the break with a 36-28 lead. The Colonels had a slim advantage after Thomas' first 3-pointer made it 8-5, but the Cowboys needed just four minutes to go up 20-8. Brendan Wenzel scored 12 of his team-high 20 in the opening half.
Following the intermission, Nelson scored the first points for a six-point Cowboy lead but the Colonels never came any closer. Wyoming went up by as much as 16 midway through the half and only allowed Nicholls to cut the deficit in half the rest of the way.
Manny Littles also finished in double figures for the Colonels, scoring 10 points and was a rebound shy of a double-double with nine boards.
Although Nicholls was out rebounded by 14, the defense was able to cause 20 turnovers after forcing 24 at No. 17 Arizona Monday night. The Colonels tallied a plus-12 margin in points off of turnovers against the Cowboys.
UP NEXT
With the cancelation on Sunday's home opener against Carver College, the Colonels play next on Nov. 19 at BYU.
