TUCSON, Ariz. - Facing the 17th-ranked team in the nation, the Nicholls State University men's basketball team was unable to slow down the Arizona Wildcats as the Colonels fell 117-75 Monday night at the McKale Center.

Arizona (1-0) shot a blistering 72 percent from the field in the victory as Nicholls (0-1) dropped to 0-2 all-time against the Wildcats. The Colonels finished at 40 percent and had four players finish in double figures, but never led in the game.

Micah Thomas paced the offense with 20 points in his Colonel debut, helped by a perfect 4-for-4 showing from 3-point range. Thomas made 8 of 10 from the field and matched Pierce Spencer with a team-high three assists. Spencer added 12 points and four steals, while Latrell Jones scored 16 points and Caleb Huffman tallied 13 points and six steals. Although the Colonels were out rebounded by 19, the defense racked up 17 steals to help a 28-18 advantage in points off turnovers.

Arizona also had four players crack double figures in scoring, led by a game-high 23 points from Azuolas Tubelis. The 6-foot-11 standout netted 20 in the first half to fuel a 59-37 Wildcat lead at the intermission.

The lone tie of the night came after Huffman drained a runner to make it 2-2 in the early minutes. But Arizona went on to score 12 consecutive points and then after a pair of Spencer free throws, went on a 16-0 spurt for a commanding 30-4 lead midway through the half. Nicholls responded by outscoring the Wildcats 31-29 the rest of the period as Thomas and Jones combined for 17 points on 7 of 8 shooting. 

In the second half, Nicholls connected on five 3-pointers but could never get the deficit to less than 20. Arizona finished with 30 assists on its 38 made field goals and sank 11 3-pointers at a 61 percent clip.
 

Pierce Spencer with the swipe and slam!

📺: https://t.co/N1bIZumWZ9 pic.twitter.com/LNLm3FCqQP

— Nicholls Men's Basketball (@Nicholls_MBB) November 8, 2022

UP NEXT
Nicholls will stay out west for a Thursday night matchup against the University of Wyoming. Tipoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. central. 

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