NATCHITOCHES, La. - Playing a second road game in three days, the Nicholls State University men's basketball team struggled on both ends of the floor as the Colonels were defeated 68-48 at Northwestern State Saturday afternoon at Prater Coliseum. 

With the loss, Nicholls slipped to 7-8 overall and 2-1 in the Southland. Northwestern State (9-6, 2-1 SLC) notched its first league win and snapped a six-game skid in the series. The setback was also the first in Natchitoches for the Colonels since 2017.

The Colonels shot 35 percent in the loss and had 20 turnovers for the second time in the last three games. Nicholls made just 4 of 21 from 3-point range and also misfired on eight of the 14 attempts at the free throw line. 

Northwestern State used a 57 percent shooting clip in the first half for a 40-22 lead at the break. The Demons finished at 52 percent and connected on 7 of 17 from 3-point range.

Unlike in Thursday's win at Texas A&M-Commerce, Nicholls was never able to make the big run it needed for a comeback as the Demon lead stayed between 15 and 21 points for the entire second half. Nicholls made it a 15- or 16-point game three times after the break but each threat was countered with a Demon bucket. 

Latrell Jones and Caleb Huffman each scored in double figures but were held to under their 15-point average. Jones scored a team-high 12 points on 5 of 11 from the field while Huffman was 4 of 13 for 10 points. Although Huffman had an off-night shooting, he tallied a career-high three blocks and added two more steals. 

NSU's leading scoring tandem of Demarcus Sharp (13 points) and Ja'Monta Black (12) were also held below their averages, but Nicholls had no answer for Jalen Hampton who scored a game-high 18 points on 8 of 8 from the field. All eight of his field goals came in the paint, including three dunks. 

UP NEXT
Nicholls closes out its three-game road swing Thursday with a trip to Lamar. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

STUFF STOPHER
Following the three-game road trip, Nicholls returns home to host McNeese (Jan. 14) and Northwestern State (Jan. 19). The contest against NSU will serve as the program's annual "Stuff Stopher" game. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time by calling the Nicholls Athletics Ticket Office at 985-448-4790 or visiting NichollsTickets.com.