LUBBOCK, Texas - The Nicholls State University men's basketball team led by as much as 11 points in the second half at Texas Tech, but the Red Raiders finished the night outscoring the Colonels 17-4 to rally for a 78-71 victory Wednesday at United Supermarkets Arena.
Nicholls (3-5) received a pair of big nights offensively from
Caleb Huffman (22 points) and
Latrell Jones (20); however, could not overcome foul trouble. Huffman exited the game with five minutes remaining and a five-point lead and starter
Marek Nelson soon followed. In all, three players fouled out while four others finished with four fouls.
Texas Tech (6-2) was able to extend its home winning streak to 26 games thanks to a stronger showing on the offensive end in the second half. The Red Raiders trailed 35-28 at the intermission before shooting 65 percent from the field the rest of the way. Tech also connected on 19 of 27 free throws in the second half after making just 10 of 19 through the opening 20 minutes.
Huffman led the charge early on for the Red and Gray, scoring 15 of his team-high 22 points in the first half. He ended the period with a long 3-pointer for the seven-point lead. Jones picked up the scoring after the break with 13 of his 20 and finished the night 4 of 9 from 3-point range.
Micah Thomas also scored in double figures with 11 points but had an off night shooting, making 4 of 17 from the field.
Nicholls stretched its advantage to nine points early in the second half and despite Tech fighting back to tie it at 45, the Colonels pieced together a 10-0 run for a 60-49 lead at the 8:47 mark. Jones ignited the spurt with two 3-pointers and Huffman finished it off with a pair of layups.
But the Red Raiders slowly chipped away at the deficit. Nelson put a runner high off the glass for a 67-61 advantage with less than five minutes remaining for the Colonels' final field goal of the night.
Kevin Obanor delivered a clutch 3-pointer that brought TTU within one, then he scored on the following possession for their first lead since nine minutes in the opening period.
Nicholls came up empty the next two times down the court and the Red Raiders extended their lead to 74-69 with four more free throws. Thomas sank a pair at the line with 24 seconds remaining but the Colonels were forced to foul. Tech scored the final four points at the charity stripe to improve to 6-0 all-time against Nicholls.
Pop Isaacs totaled a game-high 24 points for the Red Raiders while Obanor added 20. Lamar Washington finished with 12 points -- all from the free throw line.
UP NEXT
Nicholls returns home for the next two games, facing Rust College on Sunday, Dec. 11 before opening league play Thursday (Nov. 15) against rival Southeastern. Both games will air on ESPN+.
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