THIBODAUX, La. - Nicholls State University guard
Ty Gordon scored a career-high 31 points including 10 of a momentum-shifting 12-0 run at the end of the first half, as the Colonel men's basketball team notched a sixth consecutive win with an 82-73 victory over McNeese Thursday night on Broussard Court at Stopher Gymnasium.
With the win, Nicholls (17-9, 7-2 SLC) swept the season series against McNeese (10-17, 4-6 SLC) for the second straight year and has won the last five against the Cowboys. The victory was also fourth-year head coach
Austin Claunch's 70th of his career.
Gordon finished 12 of 21 from the field and 5 of 13 from 3-point range while adding five assists. Even though it was the first 30-point effort for the Tunica, Mississippi native, it marked his 13th game of scoring 20 or more points this season.
Latrell Jones added 16 points on 7 of 12 from the field and grabbed eight rebounds. With Nicholls trailing 31-28 with three minutes until the break, Jones and Gordon scored all 12 of the points half-ending run. Although Gordon had 10 with the help of two 3-pointers, Jones got the crowd off their feet with a big dunk. After scoring no points in the previous matchup against McNeese and a combined seven in the next two, Jones is averaging 17.3 points over the last three outings on an impressive 60 percent from the field.
Ryghe Lyons also scored in double figures with 12 and swatted away five shots, helping the Colonels hold McNeese to 41 percent from the field.
Manny Littles added 10 points and seven rebounds.
Playing in front of the 'Stuff Stopher' crowd, the visitors were not intimidated early after going on an 11-0 run for a 20-13 advantage. McNeese scored two buckets from long range to spark the run, with the last coming from Collin Warren (13 points) who was one of four Cowboys in double figures.
Nicholls came back to tie it at 22 on a basket by
Caleb Huffman, but Christian Shumate answered with a 3-pointer. Shumate paced McNeese with a team-high 18 points and grabbed 10 boards.
Gordon started the 12-0 run with a jumper, then Lyons blocked a shot to set up a quick triple by Gordon. He then added another 3-ball before
Devante Carter logged one of his six steals and it resulted in Jones' slam. Another steal made way for the final points of the half, a Gordon jumper for a 40-31 Colonel lead.
In the second half, the Carter to Jones connection led to another dunk, forcing a Cowboy timeout as Nicholls extended its lead to 58-44 with 11 minutes remaining. McNeese chipped away and came as close as five points at the eight-minute mark, however, Lyons delivered on a second-straight 3-pointer and Nicholls never looked back.
The Colonels shot 51 percent for the game and improved to 6-1 this season when shooting at least 50 percent.
UP NEXT
Nicholls will close out its homestand with a 3 p.m. tipoff on Saturday against HBU.
