MOBILE, Ala. - For the third time in as many games, the Nicholls State University men's basketball team had a significant first-half lead but went ice cold after the break as Denver University rallied for a 91-85 victory Wednesday night in the opening game of the Jaguar Classic at the Mitchell Center.

Nicholls (1-2) sank 9 of 12 three-pointers in the first half and led by as much as 18 before Denver (2-1) ended the period on a 12-0 run. The Pioneers then took the lead for good with six minutes remaining to complete the comeback victory.

Four Colonels finished in double figures, led by Jamal West Jr.'s 22 points. Jalen White scored a career-high for his second straight outing with 20 points and Diante Smith added 18. White and Smith were deadly from the outside, combining to make 9 of 14 from three-point range. Robert Brown III also cracked double figures with 10 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. Smith dished out a game-high six assists with no turnovers.

Although Nicholls was on fire early, it wasn't until midway through the opening period that they led by double digits. White scored in transition off a Mekhi Collins steal and that made way for a 15-2 spurt. West scored seven of the points, including one three-pointer, and White capped the run with his fourth triple of the half for a 43-25 advantage. However, the Pioneers kept the Colonels scoreless the rest of the period as the team went into the locker room with a 43-37 score.

In the second half, Denver continued to chip away at the deficit and made it a one-possession game after Deandre Craig sank a 3-ball, cutting the lead to 57-54. Denver then saw its first lead since the opening minutes at the 9:40 mark, forcing a Colonel timeout.

Smith drove the ball to the lane and tied the game at 67, but the Pioneers scored the next five and never trailed again. Micah Thomas trimmed the deficit to two with a turnaround jumper with 3:40 remaining before Denver countered again with the next seven points en route to the victory.

Nicholls took care of the ball with just nine turnovers and had another excellent showing at the free throw line, making 16 of 20. But the Colonels were in foul trouble most of the night as Denver went to the line 30 times and made 24. 

Defensively, West and Collins blocked three shots each while White and Collins joined Brown with three steals. 

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Nicholls will take on host South Alabama on Thursday at 7 p.m. The game will air on ESPN+.