THIBODAUX, La. - The Nicholls State University men's basketball team put up over 100 points for the first time this season while allowing Champion Christian to score just 25 in each half as the Colonels picked up a 115-50 victory Tuesday night on Broussard Court at Stopher Gymnasium.
With the win, Nicholls ups its record to 3-4 overall and 2-0 at home. The Colonels continued to dominate at home under fifth-year head coach
Austin Claunch, improving to 34-3 over the last three-plus seasons.
Coming off his first career player of the week honor,
Latrell Jones finished with a game-high 23 points to lead five Colonels in double figures. After seeing his first action this past weekend in the Las Vegas Holiday Classic,
Mekhi Collins scored a career-high 19 points on 7 of 7 from the field to go along with five rebounds and three blocks.
Micah Thomas added 15 points and six assists, while
Caleb Huffman had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Manny Littles also scored 12 points and registered nine rebounds.
Nicholls shot 61 percent for the game and netted eight 3-pointers at a 40 percent clip. For the second time in the last three games, the Colonels had a stellar day at the free throw line by making 15 of 19.
The Red and Gray started the game off with the first 12 points through the opening six minutes. Champion Christian answered by outscoring the Colonels 11-7 to make it 19-11, but Nicholls pulled away early in the contest and never looked back.
The Colonels went into the break with a 46-25 advantage. They then started the second half like the opening of the game, scoring 10 straight points for a 31-point lead. It took only until the midway point in the half for a 40-point lead and then the margin swelled to 87-37 with eight minutes to go.
Holding a large lead, the Colonel starters sat the rest of the way but the scoring continued. Ten players scored for Nicholls on the night including a new high of five points by
Quinn Strander.
Champion Christian shot 33 percent for the game and struggled from deep, making 4 of 31. The Tigers also gave up the ball 21 times. Braylon Hawkins (14 points) and Xavier Hall (13) led the offense in scoring.
UP NEXT
The Colonels will have just over a week off before heading back on the road to face Texas Tech on Wednesday, Dec. 7. Tipoff in Lubbock is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN+.
